Michelle ThompsonMovies created with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) are now eligible for major Academy Awards, according to updated rules from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In guidelines released Monday, the Academy stated that using AI or other digital technologies would not improve or reduce a film’s chances of receiving a nomination.
Generative AI—capable of producing text, visuals, audio, and video from simple prompts—contributed to several films honored at the Oscars in March.
However, the Academy emphasized that human input would still play a key role in evaluating submissions. The Science and Technology Council advised the new eligibility wording regarding generative AI use.
Additional rule changes now require Academy members to watch every nominee in a category to vote in the final round that determines the winners.
Debate over AI in film intensified after Adrian Brody won Best Actor in March for The Brutalist, where generative AI was used to refine his Hungarian accent.
It was later revealed that similar voice-cloning tools enhanced vocals in the Oscar-winning musical Emilia Perez.
AI tools, praised for their ability to mimic artistic tone or make subtle visual edits, are increasingly used in entertainment. Still, their rise has sparked criticism, with many artists voicing concerns over the data used to train these tools and how they might threaten creative jobs.
Issues and constraints
During the 2023 Hollywood strikes, actors and screenwriters voiced worries about AI threatening their jobs.
Actress Susan Sarandon told the BBC while protesting that it was troubling to have her image and voice used without consent.
Writers were particularly worried that studios might turn to AI tools like ChatGPT to reduce costs and speed up tasks such as research, treatments, and scriptwriting—replacing human creativity.
The strikes ended with agreements that included AI-related protections for talent.
Still, while some actors are open to using AI, others—like Scarlett Johansson—have raised concerns about misuse of their likeness.
In 2024, animators told the BBC that generative AI still lacks the quality to match their craft, especially for award-winning projects.
Jonathan Kendrick, co-founder of Rokit Flix, compared AI to “a bad writer” that can draft basic ideas but can’t deliver the emotional depth needed to win major accolades like an Oscar.
