Artificial Intelligence Today
It goes without question just how massive the growth and impact AI has had, not only in the entertainment industry, but in our daily lives as a whole. From writing essays and doing homework, to planning out trips, creating shopping lists, and even drafting entire marketing plans. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to be at least a little afraid of the future.
When it comes to the entertainment industry, people tend to have differing opinions on whether or not it is ethically correct to use AI in production, editing, promotion, and every other aspect of filmmaking. I, myself, have strong opinions on the matter. But, enough about me for now. I asked 5 experts in the industry and who have extensive knowledge surrounding the topic what their thoughts were.
Here’s what they said:
- Ligia Trejo, DBA, MBA: “AI has reshaped the film/entertainment industry, creating new ways to produce and deliver in a fast and efficient way. Nonetheless, the usage of AI has also brought concerns of usage, whether this be authenticity, ownership, and also the possibility of labor displacement. Due to its cost efficient implementation and advantages of output in less time, it is very likely that AI usage will continue to grow in the film/entertainment industry.”
- Yesenia Roque | Creative Editor: “AI can’t be ignored as it’s part of our future, whether we choose to embrace it or not. AI can be used to enhance and expand the arts and entertainment, not serve as a substitute for human artists. Creativity is rooted in emotion, culture, and personal experience. It should not be a buffer for reality and artists’ truth.”
- Maya Martinez | Junior Designer: “AI can certainly be a great tool to enhance the work of creatives, especially when used to speed up repetitive tasks. When attempting to ‘replace’ creatives, it becomes clear that AI lacks the essentially imperfect human perspective; all that can ever be produced is a safe, algorithmically flattened piece of content.”
- Dylan Martin | Industry Associate: “I believe that AI in films/entertainment is inevitable but just because it’s bound to happen doesn’t discount the fact that it’s a creative death in the industry. I think that AI could be an incredibly helpful and insightful too but so long as it’s used to replace genuine talent in lieu of cost effectiveness it will remain incredibly unethical. I do believe they have a place in the media space but I believe it should be a limited role and to be used as a tool instead of an employee.”
- Juan Mederos | Industry Associate: “AI in the film and entertainment industry as a whole offers many benefits; however, strict regulation should be in place in order to make sure it is used ethically. AI can create shortcuts for certain tasks which is helpful during production, but generative AI deprives a product of its integrity. People work and study for many years to become professionals in their occupations, which creates individuality within their art. AI cannot replicate that, it can only build off of what has previously been made. This is why I think AI has no future in the film/entertainment industry, as the general public already sees AI as something incapable of creating a product with artistic value.”
The General Consensus
It seems that every person I asked generally had the same thoughts on the topic. AI is here to stay, there’s no denying that. Yet, we should still fight for what’s right, and that is the rights of all the artists who pour their blood, sweat, and tears into their craft for films, music, art, and more.
I think the biggest gripe people have with AI is of course, the chance that it begins taking people’s jobs. While it may be cost efficient and convenient in many different ways, it brings in the question of the ethics behind it all. Should we really be allowing literal robots to take over the jobs of humans who have been doing it for who knows how long?
Personally, I don’t think so. I believe the rights of these artists, actors, filmmakers, musicians, and everyone in between need to be protected. It is unfortunate that AI will inevitably have a big role in our future, considering it already does.
In today’s day and age, AI is already reaching levels where it is generating content that sometimes looks too real, actively becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish what’s real from what’s “AI slop.”
If it were up to me, I say we let the filmmakers make their films, and the robots do their own thing, away from the real artists.