Netflix's decision to remaster the 1980s sitcom 'A Different World' using AI upscaling technology has backfired, with the resulting images sparking outrage among fans and critics. The "HD" remaster, which is currently streaming on Netflix, is plagued by distorted faces, garbled text, and misshapen backgrounds, ruining the nostalgic experience for many viewers.

The issues were first spotted shortly after Netflix added the Cosby Show spin-off to its service in February, with criticisms of the botched upscaling effort appearing across online social platforms. While the type of upscaling techniques used to remaster the original 480p or 360p broadcast resolution haven't been officially revealed, all signs point to sloppy AI upscaling.

Developer Scott Hanselman explained on TikTok that AI upscaling image technology isn't yet capable of producing high-quality results. "You can make one blurry pixel into four pixels, or four pixels into sixteen pixels but you gotta have that information come from somewhere," he said. "From far away, it looks amazing, and you now have a 4K, remastered version of A Different World, which I think we can all agree would be amazing. The problem is AI upscaling image technology isn't quite there yet."

It's worth noting that 'A Different World' was previously available to stream on Max and Prime Video, which both support the show's original 4:3 format, before coming to Netflix where it's now cropped to 16:9. These AI upscaling issues haven't arisen for the show on other platforms before, leading some to speculate that Netflix itself may not have been responsible for the botched remaster. The licensing rights to 'A Different World' are held by the Carsey-Werner production company, which also owns Roseanne – another 1980s sitcom that's similarly blighted with ugly AI upscaling on Peacock.

Netflix has faced criticism in the past for its use of AI in content creation, including the reproduction of the voice of murdered influencer Gabby Petito and the use of AI-generated images in a true crime documentary. The company's quality control checks have also been called into question, with many wondering how these issues made it past reviews to land in front of viewers' eyeballs in the show's current state.

We've reached out to Netflix and Carsey-Werner to clarify the upscaling problems and will update if we hear back. In the meantime, fans of 'A Different World' are left to wonder why Netflix didn't take a more careful approach to remastering the beloved sitcom.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of using AI upscaling technology to remaster classic content. While the technology has the potential to breathe new life into old shows and movies, it's clear that more work needs to be done to ensure that the results are of high quality and respectful to the original material.

As the streaming wars continue to heat up, the importance of preserving the integrity of classic content cannot be overstated. Netflix's botched remaster of 'A Different World' serves as a cautionary tale for the industry, highlighting the need for careful consideration and attention to detail when it comes to remastering beloved shows and movies.