AI slop artists are redoing the ‘Squid Sport’ collection finale

Was the collection finale of the hit South Korean Netflix present Squid Sport one?

Relying on who you ask, probably not. Judging by the infinite on-line chatter, many viewers discovered the ending unsatisfying — not essentially as a result of it didn’t tie up free ends (though it arguably didn’t), however as a result of it left the characters in an particularly grim place.

For others — significantly these with some further time on their palms — it turned the right excuse to fireplace up Google’s Veo 3 and craft a completely new ending.

Spoilers forward, however the ending of Squid Sport Season 3 is bleak. Each this season and the one earlier than it explored the conflict of beliefs between Gi-hun, the present’s protagonist, and the Frontman (Lee Byung-hun), with Season 3 finally siding with the latter’s nihilistic view of humanity. Within the finale, Gi-hun faces an inconceivable alternative: save himself, or sacrifice the whole lot to guard Participant 222’s new child youngster over the past recreation. He chooses the latter, giving up his life so the child — an unsettlingly CGI-rendered creation — can reside.

Viewers didn’t find it irresistible.

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In fact, fanfiction and alternate endings are nothing new. However utilizing AI to visualize these endings continues to be comparatively novel — and, frankly, unusual to observe. On TikTok and Instagram, creators utilizing Google Veo 3 have been producing new variations of the finale. Some characteristic Gi-hun kicking the CGI child off a platform; others depict Participant 222 surviving the Soar Rope recreation and happening to lift her youngster. There’s additionally the one the place Gi-hun has a knife battle with the child. It is positively disturbing stuff.

There’s loads to say about Squid Sport’s ending itself — like how extending the collection past its first season arguably undermines the present’s unique critique of capitalism. However there’s one thing else at play right here: the rising urge to make use of AI to “repair” tales that have been deliberately written to go away viewers unsettled.

Are these AI-generated movies meant to be taken critically? Not likely. However they’re additionally a glimpse of the place issues are heading—towards a future the place anybody can simply remake or reshape a narrative to suit their very own most well-liked model of occasions.

Whether or not that’s thrilling or unsettling is determined by how you are feeling in regards to the recreation itself.