Format

In formats, as elsewhere, AI can be used in many ways, some rightly, some not, some speciously (as in the last US edition of Big Brother), some for a specific reason. If Pigs Could Talk, by Snowman Productions, distributed by Seven.One Studio International and broadcast on ARD/NDR (Germany), DR (Denmark), RTS (Switzerland), NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), has not only a correct use of AI, but even an "ethical" one.
This groundbreaking (I hardly ever use that adjective, but here it is needed) documentary unlocks the language of pigs using AI, revealing the hidden emotions and ethics of pig farming. In March 2024, thanks to an advanced AI technology, a group of scientists were able to translate the grunts, squeaks and snorts of pigs into human language. They were finally able to understand what pigs were saying to humans and to each other.
In the documentary this revolutionary technology is taken one step further as a team of researchers are, for the first time, sent out to decode pig communications in real-world settings. Together they collect over 15,000 audio recordings of pig speak from organic, free-range and mass production farms – and lorries full of pigs. They then face a blind test to interpret the recordings, without knowing their origins. In total 19 distinct pig emotional expressions are identified.
The shocking and ethical part is hearing the pigs 'talk' as they are taken to the slaughterhouse, terrifyingly aware of what is about to happen to them. Indeed, If Pigs Could Talk exposes the realities of pork production and challenges viewers to rethink their perceptions and ethics regarding animal welfare...
To read the other two articles about the prime-time French format and an one-man-how adaptation, go to Espresso

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