Disney+ Viewers Left Unnerved by "Creepy" Use of AI in Prom Pact

Disney+ viewers have been left completely unnerved after spotting very "creepy" uses of AI to fill in the crowd in Prom Pact's opening scene. The teen comedy sparked some controversy when it debuted on the platform back in March, but its "creepy" use of AI actors mostly went unnoticed. However, now that SAG-AFTRA is publicly fighting for the rights of actors regarding AI, Disney's use of it in Prom Pact has come under scrutiny once again.

AI Actors in Prom Pact

Viewers were horrified after spotting AI actors filling in the crowd in the Disney+ teen comedy Prom Pact. Disney's use of AI comes right at the beginning of the film, which stars Doogie Kamealoha M.D. star Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Disney Channel actor Milo Manheim. In the scene, Peyton's character, Mandy, is walking into the school gym where the cheerleaders are firing up the crowd. The camera flashes between the basketball court and the crowd, with a blink-and-you'll-miss it moment revealing the use of AI. However, once you've noticed it, you can't miss it. Take particular note of the girl wearing a yellow top, animatedly clapping in the crowd.

Viewers Share Horror on Social Media

Viewers who noticed it quickly took to social media to share their horror at the scene. "The AI crowd in this new Disney+ show plus teen flick Prom Pact are the most unnerving thing I've seen in a film for decades," one viewer tweeted. "Disney's Prom Pact features AI extras that give a whole new meaning to 'deadpan acting,'" commented another. "They are creepy and I don't like them," said a third. A fourth viewer noted: "They look so much like corpses, like those Victorian death photographs where people were propped up to pose." While a fifth agreed and said: "Let the nightmares begin."

Controversy and Concerns

But, more than just being creepy, Disney viewers took issue with the idea of using AI. "Reminder, this is what SAG-AFTRA is fighting against," one said. "They have no respect for their audience, their customers," another viewer agreed. Additionally, viewers pointed out that the AI they saw in the film was of people of colour who potentially aren't being compensated for the use of their image.

SAG-AFTRA Negotiations

The use of AI has been one of the major sticking points in the ongoing SAG-AFTRA negotiations in Hollywood. Actors are concerned that their likeness may be cloned and reproduced without their consent, and without compensation. Studios have entered the negotiations by offering to obtain advance consent from actors to reuse their likeness, and noted that there will be a fee attached to this. However, SAG-AFTRA hasn't agreed to the proposal, which they say does not create strict enough protections for actors in terms of where or how many times their image is used. "We have sacrificed too much to capitulate to their stonewalling and greed," SAG-AFTRA said during negotiations last week.

Milo Manheim and Peyton Elizabeth Lee star in the film Prom Pact, which has come under fire for its use of AI actors.