Academy confirms AI-generated films can compete for Oscars

Films that use artificial intelligence in their creation will still be eligible to win Oscars, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The new rules confirm that the use of generative AI tools will not prevent a film from receiving a nomination or winning an award, nor will it boost its chances.

The Academy released updated guidelines on Monday, stating that digital innovations such as AI would "neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination."

This announcement follows growing discussions about AI’s role in the film industry, especially after this year’s Oscars, where some winning films were supported by AI during production.

Generative AI, which creates content like text, images, audio, and video using simple prompts, has been increasingly used in recent filmmaking.

Some films that took home major industry awards in March had elements enhanced using these tools.

Even so, the Academy has made it clear that the role of human creators will remain a key consideration when choosing Oscar winners.

The updated language around AI in film eligibility was suggested by the Academy’s Science and Technology Council. The Council helped develop the new guidelines to address the evolving relationship between technology and storytelling.

In addition to the AI-related update, the Academy introduced a new voting rule.

All members eligible to vote must now watch every nominated film in a category before casting their votes in the final round. This move is aimed at ensuring fairness and informed decision-making.

The issue of AI in the film industry became more prominent after actor Adrian Brody won Best Actor for his performance in The Brutalist.

AI technology was used to refine Brody’s Hungarian accent in the film.

Another winner at this year’s ceremony, the musical Emilia Perez, also used similar voice-cloning technology to improve vocal performances.

These technologies can replicate tone and style, make subtle visual edits, or change audio features with ease.

Their growing use has made them popular among filmmakers and musicians.

However, their rise has also sparked debate and concern among industry professionals.

During the 2023 Hollywood strikes, actors and screenwriters raised alarms over AI potentially replacing human labor.

"If you can take my face, my body, and my voice and make me say or do something that I had no choice about, that's not a good thing," said actress Susan Sarandon during a protest.

Writers have also pointed to the risks of studios using tools like ChatGPT for research, story treatments, and even scriptwriting, sidelining human creativity.

These fears were among the key issues during negotiations between unions and film studios. Agreements reached after the strikes included safety measures on how AI can be used in the industry.

Even as some performers are open to exploring the technology, others remain cautious. Actress Scarlett Johansson has warned against how AI could be used to manipulate a person’s image or likeness without their consent.

While AI continues to influence many areas of production, experts argue that its creative output is still limited.

Speaking to the BBC in 2024, animators said generative AI had not yet reached the level of quality needed to rival skilled human artists, especially when aiming for award-winning work.

Jonathan Kendrick, co-founder and chairman of the global streaming platform Rokit Flix, remarked on the technology’s current shortcomings.

"It’s like having a bad writer help you," he said. "Sure, it will get an outline done, but if you need something with emotional weight, an AI isn’t going to get you an Oscar."