AI in Hollywood: 5 Signs that Generative AI is Coming to Filmmaking

AI is coming to Hollywood, whether people like it or not.

The signs have been here as recent innovations in technology have started to appeal more towards film studios rather than tech companies as they did during the AI boom.

SAG-AFTRA, WGA Negotiations Left Loopholes to Exploit

Yes, the Screen Actors American - Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Writers' Guild went against the unfair use of AI to replace actors and writers in the historic double Hollywood strikes last year.

However, the finalized agreement is far from the initial demands of both guilds as compromises were made during negotiations.

These changes in demands include Hollywood still using generative AI as long as they compensate the affected artists for it.

While these "loopholes" were not evident after SAG-AFTRA and WGA ended their labor strikes, the issue is rearing its head once again as technology becomes a more common sight in the entertainment industry.

With negotiations opening again after three years, it would not be surprising if Hollywood executives would have a much different opinion about AI than they did back then.

More Celebrities are Advocating Generative AI

After the SAG-AFTRA ended its strike against Hollywood studios for better pay and protection against AI abuse, many celebrities have been noted to promote AI and AI-powered products.

Even SAG-AFTRA itself closed a deal with an AI company during the 2024 CES convention to license voice actors' likenesses for game development.

While these deals and promotions seem smaller than the actors' guild has accomplished, these also indicate the growing acceptance of the industry towards AI despite serious concerns from many.

Several AI firms have also been reported to have collaborated with notable personalities as Google did when it showcased its newest video generator, Veo, with Grammy-winner and filmmaker Donald Glover (Childish Gambino).

Film, Show Producers Caught Using AI

Actors are not the only ones slowly getting the allure of AI technology. Film and show producers themselves have been caught inserting AI-generated media into their works secretly.

Notable examples are the opening for Marvel's "Secret Invasion" and the transition screen used in the 70's inspired horror film "Late Night with the Devil."

While the producers admitted to using AI as a sort of experiment, it was only after keen-eyed viewers noticed the AI use they responded.

With AI becoming more indistinguishable from reality, it would be no surprise if more directors and producers would soon sneak some AI-generated media into their shows and films.

OpenAI's Sora, Google Veo Advertised as Filmmaking Tools

The most evident sign of AI's move toward the entertainment industry can be noticed in the recent releases of Sora and Veo.

Boasting near-realistic video generation, both AIs are being promoted to filmmakers and producers as complementary tools similar to visual effects and CGI machines.

Adobe also announced plans to build a dedicated AI video generator for Premiere Pro, one of the leading premium tools for film and video editing.

AI's Shadow Haunts Over Hollywood Layoffs

It is also worth noting that the industry's slow transition towards AI comes at a time when more studios and entertainment companies have started laying off employees to cut costs.

It can be remembered that one of the reasons many writers and actors went on a strike was the growing number of layoffs in the industry as talks of Hollywood producers turning towards AI to evade unions asking for better wages.

With the same issue surfacing again, the Hollywood Reporter estimates that over 20% of industry jobs are at risk of being eliminated by 2026.