AI in Hollywood: A Controversial Shift

It’s kind of amusing when you think about it. While Hollywood unions are voicing concerns over Martin Scorsese’s use of AI for storyboarding, Netflix has already integrated AI into around 300 of its shows this year.

Imagine the scene—someone’s vacuuming, and meanwhile, the house is ablaze.

According to Netflix, “We are increasingly leveraging these tools to deliver higher quality output faster and at lower cost than traditional methods.” This information is shared with shareholders in quarterly reports. They pointed out, “In some cases, without GenAI technology, we would have had to omit important shots or sequences in production.”

But that’s misleading. These productions have likely spent millions on CGI to create those shots. Using AI was more of a strategic choice—maybe a smart one, too.

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos noted that AI offers “better tools for creatives to bring their visions to life.” He mentioned specific achievements, like “17 minutes of AI-enhanced footage.” He added, “We expanded the scope of the series in a way that was previously not possible,” claiming that AI works “twice as fast and at half the cost compared to previous options.”

Then he shared a hopeful outlook about AI’s role in the future, saying, “We believe it takes great artists to make great things, and AI won’t change that. Movies are made by the people who make them. AI will give them better tools to make them even better.”

To those panicking over this shift, I simply say… of course.

Yes, job losses will occur—set designers, location scouts, CGI artists, and storyboarders may feel the pinch. But, as history shows with progress, new opportunities will give rise to different roles. After all, someone has to manage those sprawling data centers.

This change was inevitable. It really was.

Consider those who now earn a living on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

AI has the potential to create even more jobs for everyday creative individuals.

And that’s just within the entertainment sector.

The potential changes AI could bring to other industries are no more mysterious than how people once perceived the far-reaching effects of electricity.

In fields like medicine, science, architecture, and urban planning, we stand at the brink of a revolution reminiscent of the seismic shifts brought by the internet three decades ago. Sure, there are challenges, but the benefits likely outweigh the downsides.