BBC retains murky water in Blue Planet III to counter AI doubts

The producers of the new BBC nature series Blue Planet III are deliberately retaining cloudier, less polished footage to signal that the images are real. This creative decision aims to counter rising skepticism about artificial intelligence in visual media. The approach marks a shift from the high-definition standards previously favored in natural history programming.

The series arrives almost ten years after Blue Planet II and 25 years after the original broadcast. The BBC Studios natural history unit is positioning this third installment as a blend of advanced technology and raw observation. The production claims to feature the world's first underwater CCTV camera, a device nicknamed the "stonefish" cam.

The shift toward a more organic look was driven by the rapid spread of AI tools. Executive producer Elizabeth White explained that the technology makes the team want to be even more authentic. She noted that the animals filmed in the deep ocean are probably more remarkable than AI could imagine, and emphasized that the footage is completely real.

White detailed how past editing practices would have removed sequences with plankton, boats, or buoys in the frame. Poor water conditions might also have led to a shot being rejected. The current team is keeping these details and expects to lean further into murkier imagery as AI capabilities grow.

Jack Bootle, the BBC's head of specialist factual commissioning, provided a specific assurance to journalists at a press screening. He stated that no generative AI was used in the series, not a single frame. He described the show as bursting with novel behavior, contrasting it with a perceived sense of familiarity in other natural history content.

The new footage captures several unique animal behaviors. These include dolphins using sea sponges to block holes in coral and trap fish. A grouper was filmed communicating with another species of fish, and 200,000 crabs were recorded lining up in formation to feed. Sea urchins were also shown using shells as sun hats.

Filming took four years across five oceans. Series producer Lara Bickerton said the team continually innovated, building a mini-dome camera to follow an octopus and a deep-sea selfie stick. Camera operators wore leg-mounted scooters to capture immersive diving footage, and lasers were used to film deep-sea animals.

The series addresses threats to the ocean alongside its resilience. One episode shows how warmer seas caused by the climate crisis are killing the sea anemones where clownfish live. The plastics theme from the previous series continues with a story on pollutants and forever chemicals.

Narrator David Attenborough, who is 100, was very much involved in the process and made changes to the scripts. Executive producer Elizabeth White said he has not lost his curiosity and remains excited when shown new footage. She noted that the series saved money by using more local crews on location than earlier ones.

Blue Planet III begins on Sunday, 1 November, on BBC1 and iPlayer.