Netizens abuzz as AI allegedly used in 'Sigabo' scene

A wedding scene from Coco Martin’s primetime series "Sigabo" has gone viral—not for praise, but for the criticism it received after viewers allege it featured AI-generated visuals,  debate over artificial intelligence in local TV.

The scene quickly gained attention on social media, particularly on X, where many users pointed out visual elements they believed resembled AI-generated video.

“Why ohh why Sigabo? Raising expectations again from people for this new teleserye of ours,” one user wrote in response to the circulating clip.

The allegations also prompted criticism of ABS-CBN, with some users tagging the network and arguing that relying on AI could devalue the work of artists and production staff.

Others expressed concern about AI’s impact on jobs in the creative industry. “If you really want to save the TV and film industry, shouldn’t we use the talents of our editors? They’re not even getting the right compensation, and now they have to compete with AI,” one user said.

Some cited the budget limitations TV productions face. Even so, others argued that relying on the technology could affect the quality of the finished product, while another user voiced concern about its long-term impact on the television industry.

The allegations extended beyond the episode, with several netizens claiming that "Sigabo’s" official poster and other promotional materials were also AI-generated.

Aside from "Sigabo," some viewers also raised similar concerns about “Blood Vs. Duty,” starring Richard Gutierrez and Gerald Anderson, claiming that one of its action scenes appears to use AI-generated visuals.

Since premiering on June 22, "Sigabo" has reached viewers across four networks—TV5, AllTV, A2Z, and Kapamilya Channel—while also gaining traction online, with episodes and clips drawing hundreds of thousands to millions of views on YouTube.

As of this writing, neither Martin nor the production team has issued an official response to the allegations.