Movies that use artificial intelligence (AI) can now win top awards at the Oscars, according to new rules from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
On Monday, the Academy announced that using AI or digital tools in films won’t increase or decrease the chances of getting an Oscar nomination. This means AI can be used in filmmaking, but human involvement will still be important when choosing the winners.
Generative AI—technology that can create text, images, music, and videos using simple prompts—has already been used in some recent award-winning movies. For example, in March, Adrian Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist, where AI was used to improve his Hungarian accent. In the musical Emilia Perez, similar AI tools were used to enhance singing voices.
These tools are becoming more popular in film and music production because they can quickly make changes like adjusting voices or appearances.
New Rules and Voting Changes
The Academy also announced that its Science and Technology Council helped update the rules. One of the new rules says Academy members must now watch all the nominated films in a category before they can vote for a winner.
Concerns About AI in Film
Even though AI is helpful, it’s still a controversial topic. Many actors and writers are worried about how AI might take away their jobs. During the 2023 Hollywood strikes, these concerns were strongly voiced.
Actress Susan Sarandon said, “If you can use my face, voice, and body to make me do or say something I didn’t agree to, that’s not okay.” Writers are also worried studios might use AI like ChatGPT to write scripts and save money, instead of hiring real people.
As a result, new rules were created during the strikes to protect actors and writers from AI misuse.
Some stars, like Scarlett Johansson, have warned about the risks of AI using their image or voice without permission. On the other hand, some actors have welcomed AI in certain areas of filmmaking.
Animators say that current AI tools still can’t match the quality of human-made animation. Jonathan Kendrick, co-founder of Rokit Flix, said, “AI can give you a rough idea, but if you want something with real emotion, AI alone won’t win you an Oscar.”
This change shows that AI has a growing role in the film industry, but human creativity and talent are still key to winning Hollywood’s biggest awards.
