Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a common topic in popular films and television programs for decades. Most portray AI as a dystopian force, overtaking or threatening humanity: HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Skynet from The Terminator films, the machines from The Matrix, and countless more. This long-standing “us versus them” narrative is likely contributing to the skepticism surrounding AI in today’s film industry.
AI is no longer just a concept found in science fiction films. It has crossed the barrier from fiction to real life and is actively reshaping how movies are made. From scriptwriting to post-production, AI can generate new story ideas, edit footage, and even recreate actors digitally. In 2023, Hollywood screenwriters orchestrated a 148-day strike in one of the first significant labor battles over generative AI in the workplace. This 5-month walkout showcased the desire for better regulation in the creative industry. While guardrails were secured, the constantly evolving world of AI will need to have its regulations revisited again and again.
AI and the Oscars
With the 97th Academy Awards approaching, there has been discussion around the use of AI in films. The Academy’s rules allow producers to make optional disclosures about AI use – but there is talk that the Academy will eventually make these disclosures mandatory.
One reason behind this shift is the recent controversy surrounding Brady Corbet’s film The Brutalist. You might not expect a 3.5-hour epic about post-World War 2 immigration to spark AI controversy, but it has, thanks to a candid interview with the film’s Oscar-nominated editor, Dávid Jancsó. Jancsó, a native Hungarian speaker, used Respeecher, an AI voice-generating technology, to enhance the Hungarian dialogue of the film’s leads—Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. The interview went viral, provoking negative reactions, with some questioning the validity of Brody’s Oscar nomination.
The controversy following the interview shows how important it is to understand the nuances of using AI as a tool—the key word being “tool.” Jancsó and Corbet were both transparent about how they used AI—with intention and a creative human element always guiding the way. The use of AI did not replace any artists; it opened opportunities for the post-production team to try new things.
Yet, there are cases where AI use in filmmaking deserves criticism. The trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s 2024 film Megalopolis used fake, AI-generated quotes from critics that were passed off as authentic quotes discussing the director’s past films. Once this came to light, the studio promptly pulled the trailer and released a statement that indicated it was an oversight – “We screwed up. We are sorry.” Whether intentional or not, using AI to generate fake critic quotes crossed ethical lines, leading to backlash and raising concerns about the potential for AI to be used for misinformation.
Is AI Just Another Step Forward?
The resistance to AI in filmmaking may follow a similar pattern to early resistance to computer generated imagery (CGI), digital editing, and motion capture. Every major technological leap in cinema sparked controversy before becoming a standard tool for filmmakers.
Early motion capture was criticized for its unsettling “uncanny valley” effect, but as with other technologies, it eventually became widely accepted. Before digital editing, filmmakers manually spliced physical film reels. When non-linear digital editing systems like Avid and Final Cut Pro gained traction in the 1990s, some purists resisted the change, arguing that traditional techniques were superior. Now, virtually all films are edited digitally. When CGI emerged, critics dismissed it as an artificial novelty. However, Jurassic Park (1993) and The Matrix (1999) proved CGI could revolutionize storytelling, and today, it’s an essential part of filmmaking.
Harnessing AI Without Losing the Human Touch
AI is not inherently good or bad—it’s a tool. How we use it will define its role in filmmaking and beyond. While AI can speed up production and boost efficiency, it can’t generate the depth of human emotion and artistic intuition that makes great storytelling. The real question isn’t whether AI belongs in filmmaking—it’s whether we will use it in ethical ways. With the speed at which AI is evolving, we don’t know what will come next or who will regulate it. Embracing AI as a tool, not a replacement, helps us explore creativity and allows us to maintain the artistry that makes cinema uniquely human.