Films created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) are eligible for Oscars, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
On Monday, the Academy announced new rules stating that the use of AI and digital tools would “neither help nor harm” a film’s chances of receiving a nomination.
Generative AI, which produces text, images, audio, and video from simple prompts, played a role in some films that received top honors at the Oscars in March. However, the Academy emphasized that human involvement will still be considered in the selection of winners.
These updates to eligibility guidelines were recommended by the Academy’s Science and Technology Council. Additional changes require Academy members to watch all nominated films in each category before participating in the final voting round.
The topic gained attention when Adrian Brody won Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist, which used generative AI to enhance his Hungarian accent. Similar voice-cloning technology was also used to improve singing in the Oscar-winning musical Emilia Perez.
While AI’s ability to modify tone, style, and appearance has made it popular in film and music production, its usage has sparked controversy. Artists and actors have raised concerns about the impact of AI on their livelihoods and the materials used to train these tools.
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Concerns and Limitations
During the 2023 Hollywood strikes, actors and screenwriters expressed fears of losing jobs to AI. Actress Susan Sarandon highlighted the dangers of having her likeness manipulated without consent, while screenwriters worried studios might replace human creativity with AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT for scriptwriting.
Agreements reached between unions and studios after the strikes included safeguards for AI usage. Some actors have embraced the technology, but others, like Scarlett Johansson, warn of the potential misuse of their images.
Animators have noted that current generative AI tools do not yet match the quality of award-winning work. Jonathan Kendrick, co-founder of global streaming service Rokit Flix, remarked, “It’s like having a bad writer help you; AI can’t deliver the emotional depth needed for an Oscar-winning project.”
SOURCE: BBC
