The conversation about Artificial Intelligence and its role as a “tool” in filmmaking is getting more heated. Stoking the flames are issues like a completely AI-generated version of The Odyssey. Not to mention the AI “actress” Tilly Norwood and “her” upcoming film. At Nerdbot, we’ve taken a hardline stance about AI in creative arts; we are very much against it being used. The idea of AI-generated voices, writing, actors, and artwork is repugnant and a slight to human creativity. The idea of it being eligible for awards is even worse.
BAFTA Lays Down the Law
Recently, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts stated its rules regarding AI. Essentially, they completely did away with the idea that Norwood could be eligible for an acting award. They also clarified that they have the right to explore how much AI utilization occurred in a project. More specifically, according to BAFTA:
“We’re aware that AI and digital tools are used in some areas more than others. But we felt that it was very important that we expanded that and acknowledged that if anything comes up, we have the right to request further information because ultimately BAFTA is about recognizing human achievement.”
That should be common sense. Creators who use AI can’t have things both ways. If AI is considered a “tool,” then an AI actor is not an actual actor; it’s a tool. Tilly Norwood is a tool. It would be no more eligible for an acting award than a camera would be. This is also why controversy arose over AI usage in The Brutalist. The technology was used to tweak Adrian Brody‘s voice and touch up his accent. It’s a questionable use of the technology and makes the performance less human.
AI is Not Just a Tool
BAFTA has it correct in stating that awards are meant to celebrate human achievement. Someone could use AI right now to compose a song and put it in a movie. But their prompts and ideas are not an achievement. Artificial Intelligence can bring life to that idea, but not by your own hand. The contributions that AI makes are so substantial that it removes the human element from the compositional process. There is no legitimate comparison between that process and someone composing music without an AI program.
Can a filmmaker use AI if they want to? Sure. Let them do what they want. But they also have to deal with the consequences and scrutiny that comes with it. If it means your project isn’t sanctioned by the guilds, then that’s what you have to accept. If it means people don’t want to see it and it flops at the box office. Deal with it. If it means it’s not eligible for certain awards. Well, that’s just the way it goes.
Assigning Value
We assign value to various things based on how they were created. A hand-painted portrait is going to be worth more than a digital replica. A hand-sculpted drinking cup is going to be viewed and treated differently than a 3D-printed version. By that standard of measure, AI-generated art is always going to be substandard to human-crafted works. And that’s exactly how it should be.
