AI-Enhanced Films Now Eligible for Oscars, But Human Touch Still Matters
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced films made with the assistance of artificial intelligence will be eligible for Oscars.
In a statement on Monday, the Academy said the use of AI and other digital tools “would neither help nor hurt a film’s chances of being nominated.”
That’s because the Academy has already seen films that have used generative AI – which can create text, images, audio and video from simple prompts – nominated and win awards.
At the most recent awards ceremony in March, Adrian Brody won Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist, a film that used AI to help Brody hone his Hungarian accent.
Similarly, the Oscar-winning musical Emilia Perez employed similar voice-cloning tech to help actors improve their singing performances.
The Academy says AI can play a role in filmmaking, but human involvement will still be a key factor in determining who wins. The Academy’s Science and Technology Council has recommended that human involvement is critical in determining winners.
New rules also mean Academy members must watch all of the nominated films in each category before they take part in the final voting round.
While AI technology has advanced rapidly over the last year, and become popular for its ability to quickly alter and modify artistic elements, there are still concerns among artists and actors about what this means for their work and livelihoods.
Some argue that while AI can create drafts, it lacks the emotional depth necessary for award-winning performances.
