ITV has produced an episode of its Exposure documentary series using artificial intelligence to recreate key points in the story.
ITV News and ITN worked with Twinnin, a UK-based start-up
Twinnin recruited performers who consented to being part of the project and who will receive an end-titles credit.
AI VFX artist and editor, Andrew Evans, then transformed their facial features, body shape and physique using AI prompts to create stylised characters rather than direct digital copies of the contributors.
The production also employed AI to reconstruct locations that were too dangerous to film in, such as the area formerly known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in northwestern Pakistan, where Al Qaeda ran training camps in the early 2000s.
Speaking about the project, Tim Maynard, senior producer/director at ITV News, said: “AI gave us a stylised, impressionistic way to bring key moments of the plot to life while remaining distinct from both archive footage and conventional drama. It allowed us to create sequences that feel cinematic and atmospheric, while supporting the factual storytelling at the heart of the film. This story has been told before with real actors – in a conventional manner. We wanted something compelling, ground-breaking
Maynard added: “We didn’t need to use actors but are conscious that across the film and TV industry—particularly within drama and movies—a debate is taking place about the use of AI in production. As part of our responsible use of AI, we wanted to employ actors on our production, rather than step away entirely from having humans involved in the creative process.”
ITV Exposure: Terror in the Skies: Stopping the Liquid Bomb Plot airs on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday 26th July at 10.20pm
