Backlash online to alleged use of AI during WWE NXT this week
TKO president Mark Shapiro recently revealed that WWE has been using AI as part of the creative process, with Shapiro noting that “Nick Khan and Triple H are using AI for storylines with the WWE.” Whilst that has already caused issues for a number of fans worried about the introduction of storyline slop onto their television screens, we’re now seemingly starting to see even more AI being used for actual vignettes and video production.
There was some fairly clear signs of AI use in a El Grande Americano promo last year, but that could be somewhat chalked off as being part of the storyline, because the character’s backstory is fake and they were trying to make out like he was some sort of Lucha legend.
WWE NXT AI use
The latest example of WWE being accused of using AI took place on NXT this week, with a promo video for Sol Ruca and Zaria being arguably the most egregious use case yet. You can see the video via the X post below, and there are a number of fairly obvious tells when it comes to assuming this was an AI generated piece of content. The uncanny valley nature of the close-ups of both Sol Ruca and Zaria is the biggest one though, with the AI generation clearly trying to replicate their likeness but not quite getting it 100%. In fact with Sol she looks nothing like her real-life counterpart.
There will be a point in the future were we probably won’t be able to tell the difference between reality and an AI generated video, but right now WWE are getting a ton of backlash online from fans who feel like they’re already trying to “shove AI” in their faces.