The case of Artificial Intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence remains one of the most sensitive issues in the entertainment industry and was central to the 2023 strikes that shut down Hollywood, as actors and writers warned that unchecked technology threatened their livelihoods. Artificial Intelligence has emerged this Saturday as one of the stories drawing attention in New Zealand.

Key facts

• The use of artificial intelligence remains one of the most sensitive issues in the entertainment industry and was central to the 2023 strikes that shut down Hollywood, as actors and writers warned that unchecked technology threatened their livelihoods.
• The academy that controls the Oscars on Friday issued new award eligibility requirements around the use of artificial intelligence in film.
• Actors created with artificial intelligence will not be eligible for an Oscar, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has said as it launched a crackdown on the use of artificial intelligence.
• New rules include a requirement that only real, live human performers – not their artificial intelligence (AI) avatars – are eligible for the film world’s biggest prizes, and screenplays must have been penned by a person, rather than a chatbot.
• The academy, which controls the US film industry's most prestigious award, on Friday issued updated rules for what kind of work in movies and documentaries would be considered eligible for an Oscar as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology grows.

What we know

Going deeper, the academy that controls the Oscars on Friday issued new award eligibility requirements around the use of artificial intelligence in film.

On the substance, Actors created with artificial intelligence will not be eligible for an Oscar, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has said as it launched a crackdown on the use of artificial intelligence.

Beyond the headlines, New rules include a requirement that only real, live human performers – not their artificial intelligence (AI) avatars – are eligible for the film world’s biggest prizes, and screenplays must have been penned by a person, rather than a chatbot.

More precisely, the academy, which controls the US film industry's most prestigious award, on Friday issued updated rules for what kind of work in movies and documentaries would be considered eligible for an Oscar as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology grows.

It is worth noting that If questions arise regarding the aforementioned use of generative artificial intelligence, the Academy reserves the right to request more information about the nature of the use and human authorship.

By the numbers

At this stage, Meet the Kiwi developers who just landed a movie deal with 20th Century Fox.

On a related note, the actor Val Kilmer, who died in 2025, is set to be recreated with AI technology in order to be a lead role in an upcoming movie.

Going deeper, Technology has been part of filmmaking for many years, with the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) being used widely since the 1990s.

On the substance, OpenAI closes Sora video-making app and cancels $1bn Disney deal.

What they're saying

“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 academy said on Friday (local time).

“In the Writing categories, the rules codify that screenplays must be human-authored to be eligible.”

The wider context

On a related note, Screenplays must be written by people, ruling out chatbot-generated scripts.

Going deeper, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has ruled that AI-created actors are ineligible for Oscars.

On the substance, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has clarified that only acting and writing for films done by humans will be considered eligible to win an Oscar.

Beyond the headlines, the ruling comes days after an AI version of the late Val Kilmer was unveiled to an audience of cinema owners, a year after the Top Gun star’s death.

More precisely, a youthful, digital version of Kilmer appeared in the trailer for archaeological action pic As Deep as the Grave, telling another character: “Don’t fear the dead and don’t fear me.”

The bottom line

• The academy that controls the Oscars on Friday issued new award eligibility requirements around the use of artificial intelligence in film.
• The academy, which controls the US film industry's most prestigious award, on Friday issued updated rules for what kind of work in movies and documentaries would be considered eligible for an Oscar as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology grows.
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has ruled that AI-created actors are ineligible for Oscars.