Los Angeles, California – The prestigious Oscars will now consider films created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) for top awards, according to recent rule changes announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. These new guidelines, released on Monday, state that the use of AI and other digital tools will not influence the chance of a nomination.
Generative AI, a technology capable of producing text, images, audio, and video in response to prompts, has played a significant role in the creation of some award-winning films. Despite the incorporation of AI, the Academy emphasized the importance of human involvement in the selection process for winners.
The decision to allow AI-generated content to be eligible for consideration at the Oscars was recommended by the Science and Technology Council of the Academy. Additionally, a rule update now requires Academy members to view all nominated films in each category to be eligible for the final voting round determining the winners.
AI’s impact on the film industry gained attention after actor Adrian Brody received the Best Actor award for his performance in The Brutalist at the recent Oscars. The film utilized generative AI to enhance his accent when speaking Hungarian. Similarly, voice-cloning technology was employed in the Oscar-winning musical Emilia Perez to improve singing voices.
While AI technologies offer benefits like rapidly altering artistic elements, concerns have been raised by industry professionals. Some actors, like Susan Sarandon, worry about the potential misuse of their likeness by AI tools. Screenwriters also express concerns about the possibility of studios replacing human roles with AI for tasks such as scriptwriting.
Despite advancements in AI, animators caution that current generative AI tools are still unable to match the quality of their creative work, especially to the level required for prestigious awards like the Oscars. This sentiment is echoed by industry experts, who emphasize that while AI can assist in certain aspects of production, it may not be capable of delivering the emotional depth necessary for award-winning content.