Posted by Mare | AI & Creative Law Insight

AI Can’t Win an Oscar — But Films That Use It Can

In a landmark move, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that films incorporating generative AI in their production will still be eligible for Oscars — as long as human creativity remains central to the final product.

The clarification comes amid ongoing debates about whether digital assistance diminishes artistic value.

Key Example Cases

The Brutalist
Actor Adrien Brody reportedly used AI to refine his Hungarian accent, raising ethical questions. Despite this, he won Best Actor — signaling the Academy’s evolving view.
Emilia Perez
Featured AI voice-cloning technology in musical sequences. While the effect was subtle, it pushed boundaries of authenticity.

Academy Rules: AI Allowed, Not Celebrated

“The Oscar still honors people, not machines.”
– Academy Guidelines, 2025

The Academy emphasized that the degree of human authorship will play a key role in nominations and voting. AI is considered a tool, not a creator.

Voting Changes to Strengthen Integrity

The Academy also implemented a new rule:

Members must watch all nominated films in a category before voting.
This is intended to prevent “popularity bias” and encourage informed decisions — especially critical when AI-generated elements may not be obvious.

Mare’s View

“As AI enters cinema, the question isn’t just ‘Can it create?’ — it’s ‘Who gets the credit?’
The Academy’s new stance is cautious but clear: humans remain at the center of art, even when aided by algorithms”

Source: The Times