The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially drawn a line when it comes to using artificial intelligence (AI) in movie production, updating the rules for the 97th Academy Awards to exclude AI-generated performances and scripts from eligibility.
What the Oscars New Rules Say
The new regulations address growing concerns in Hollywood about the rapid advancement of generative AI technology and its role in filmmaking. The Academy has set strict criteria for what qualifies as an award-worthy performance or script.
In the acting category, only roles credited in the film’s legal billing and demonstrably performed by humans with their consent will be considered eligible. The performer must be credited in the official legal billing, and the human actor must have provided consent for the performance. Screenplays must be human-authored to compete in the writing categories.
The Academy reserves the right to request more information from filmmakers about their use of AI and to verify that the work is truly human-authored.
Why the Change Matters
These updates come at a time when AI is increasingly being integrated into the production process. Recently, reports have highlighted high-profile AI projects, such as an independent film featuring an AI-generated version of Val Kilmer. Additionally, the release of new AI video models has worried some filmmakers about the future of the industry. The move also follows the Hollywood strikes of 2023, where actors and writers fought for protections against AI replacement.
