Artificial

The audience had a say.

Artificial follows the development of an artificial intelligence through a live, scripted drama built for Twitch. Viewers used chat and polls to influence the characters and the story in real time.

A winning choice became part of the show’s history. The other version was never performed. Participation was more than an extra feature: it was part of how the series was written and produced.

Across four seasons, Artificial explored new ways for a live audience and professional performers to create a story together. It brought Twitch its first Primetime Emmy in 2019.

4Seasons

2019Primetime Emmy

LiveAudience-shaped storytelling

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Television Academy Foundation · The Interviews

When the audience decides.

Bernie talks through developing Artificial for Twitch, writing around audience choices, directing live episodes, and rebuilding the show for remote production.

Starts at 2:33 in part 3 · Recorded March 31, 2026

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Explore the conversation.

Interview by Adrienne Faillace for the Television Academy Foundation ↗

Four seasons. Four experiments.

The early seasons established the live interactive format. Remote Intelligence rebuilt production during the pandemic, with actors performing from separate locations and audiences helping create characters and backstories.

Factions introduced competing audience groups, game mechanics, and virtual performers. The question stayed the same: how much responsibility could the audience take for the story?