Science & Tech · AI · 8 hrs ago
Why polished AI videos can still feel unreal
AI videos are becoming harder to distinguish from real footage, with more natural-looking faces, movement and lighting.
But viewers may still feel that something is off, even when there are no obvious technical errors.
AI-generated people can look too perfect, lacking the small differences in skin, facial features and hair that are common in real life.
Those imperfections help people recognise what feels real, so polished images can seem unnatural.
Misshapen signs and lettering can also break the illusion, especially in scenes of Japanese cities, where viewers unconsciously notice many written details.
Natural or resort settings may feel more convincing because they contain fewer signs and other man-made objects.
Making convincing AI footage means getting everyday details right, not just producing realistic faces and backgrounds.
AI-generated video has become more realistic, but viewers can still feel that polished images are somehow unreal.
A video director says AI-generated people can seem artificial because their faces, skin and hair look too perfect.
Small errors in signs and other written details can also make AI-generated scenes of Japanese cities feel inauthentic.
The director argues that realism depends on reproducing the many details people absorb unconsciously, not just generating convincing people and backgrounds.
- Who
- A video director with more than 15 years of experience in video production.
- What
- The director examines why polished AI-generated videos can still feel artificial.
- When
- The article was published on 2026-11-10.
- Where
- The article discusses AI-generated scenes, including streets in Tokyo and Shibuya.
- Why
- Perfection can look unlike real people, and small errors in details such as signs can undermine a scene’s realism.
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- Director’s experience
- More than 15 years in video production
- Publication date
- 2026-11-10
- City example
- Tokyo
- Neighborhood example
- Shibuya
- AI-video issue
- Overly perfect people and inaccurate signs can make scenes feel unreal