Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Bars AI-Generated Actors and Scripts from Oscar Eligibility

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released new Oscar eligibility rules on Friday that bar AI-generated performances and screenplays from consideration, requiring that only human-authored work with demonstrable human consent can compete for awards. The policy shift comes after AI became a main sticking point in the 2023 actors' and writers' strikes, with other writers' groups also declaring AI-generated work ineligible for their awards. The Academy reserves the right to request detailed information about films' AI usage and human authorship. The ruling arrives as AI continues disrupting the entertainment industry, with projects like an independent film featuring an AI-generated Val Kilmer and AI actress Tilly Norwood generating headlines, while new video models prompt concern among filmmakers.

Academy's New Rules Restricting AI in Oscar-Eligible Films

• ▪The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has the right to request more information about a film's AI usage and human authorship.
• ▪The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ruled that screenplays must be human-authored to be eligible for Academy Awards.
• ▪The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released new Oscar rules on Friday that address the use of generative artificial intelligence.

Growing Use of AI in Film Production and Performance

• ▪AI was one of the main sticking points in the actors' and writers' strikes in 2023.
• ▪AI actress Tilly Norwood keeps making headlines.
• ▪New video models are causing at least a few filmmakers to make sweeping declarations of despair.
• ▪An independent film is in the works with an AI-generated version of Val Kilmer.

Broader Industry Pushback Against AI-Generated Content

• ▪At least one novel has been pulled by its publisher due to the apparent use of AI.
• ▪Other writers' groups are declaring that AI usage makes work ineligible for awards.

Perspective of Writers and actors unions

• ▪Writers and actors unions made AI usage restrictions a main sticking point during their 2023 strikes.

Perspective of AI filmmaking advocates

• ▪New AI video models are causing some filmmakers to make sweeping declarations of despair about the technology's impact.
• ▪Filmmakers are producing an independent film featuring an AI-generated version of Val Kilmer.

Perspective of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

• ▪The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences requires that eligible performances be demonstrably performed by humans with their consent.

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