Nostalgia Fail: Netflix’s AI upscaling turns 80s sitcom “A Different World” into a nightmare

Netflix‘s use of AI to upscale the 1980s sitcom “A Different World” demonstrates the disturbing consequences of deploying artificial intelligence without proper human oversight in entertainment. The AI-enhanced version distorts characters’ faces, warps text into unrecognizable forms, and creates unsettling visual artifacts that transform nostalgic content into something resembling a horror show. This example highlights a growing trend where entertainment companies sacrifice quality for cost savings when implementing AI technologies without adequate human guidance.

The big picture: Netflix’s AI upscaling of “A Different World” represents a broader pattern of entertainment companies deploying AI in ways that produce uncanny and unsettling results.

• The AI enhancement created distorted visuals including warped faces that appear to have “something crawling underneath their skins” and text transformed into what resembled “alien language.”
• This follows other concerning applications like Prime Video‘s AI-generated dubbing and Netflix’s AI recreation of Gabby Petito’s voice reading her journal entries in a documentary.

Why this matters: The failed implementation demonstrates how AI requires significant human oversight to avoid transforming entertainment into disturbing experiences.

• When upscaling is done properly with “computer-assisted artists going through the footage,” it can enhance classic shows, but automated AI solutions are producing deeply flawed results.
• The distortions are noticeable enough that viewers have been sharing the bizarre results on social media platforms like TikTok.

Reading between the lines: Entertainment companies appear to be prioritizing cost-cutting over quality, using AI as a shortcut rather than as a thoughtfully implemented tool.

• Companies hear “AI can help upscale old shows” and think, “Great, no need for expensive remastering, AI can do the whole thing automatically.”
• These decisions reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of AI’s current capabilities and limitations in creative contexts.

The bottom line: The uncanny results suggest companies should wait for more advanced technology before applying AI upscaling to classic content.

• The reason people watch older shows typically has little to do with picture quality, making these intrusive AI “enhancements” unnecessary and potentially counterproductive.
• While AI has “incredible potential as a tool,” the key is maintaining human direction and oversight throughout the enhancement process.