The future of filmmaking is being defined by a new kind of creative partnership: artists experimenting with AI,iterating,and bringing aspiring visions to life.
For the past year, Google has worked side-by-side with filmmakers to explore ways to advance and enhance artistic processes with generative AI. But we’ve also heard a clear message: for AI to truly empower, it must be community-driven leadership and supported by accessible education. Currently, the majority of media companies feel overwhelmed by the pace of AI change and only 25% of media companies are currently investing in training.
To help, Google.org is providing $2 million in funding to the Sundance Institute to build a community-led ecosystem for AI education and empowerment. the funding will help bridge the AI skills gap by training over 100,000 artists in foundational AI skills and democratize access to AI learning for filmmakers. This effort is a part of Google.org’s AI opportunity Fund, an initiative that helps Americans develop essential AI skills by funding best-in-class workforce development and education organizations across critical segments of society.
A trusted ecosystem for AI filmmaking education
By supporting Sundance InstituteS AI training efforts,Google.org is enabling a community-led ecosystem that focuses on:
- Building the storytelling hubs of the future: Sundance Institute will establish an AI Literacy Alliance initiative in collaboration with The Gotham and Film Self-reliant. This initiative will empower artist communities by providing training and support of the establishment of values and ethics that protect human creativity, artists and the creative industry at-large.
- turning big ideas into technical skills: Sundance Institute and alliance partners will develop a free online curriculum to help bridge the gap between creative curiosity and effective technical use. This will include scholarships for Google courses like AI Essentials.
- Advancing artist learning and developing standards: Sundance institute will launch an AI Creators Fellowship for technical experimentation and host community conversations to develop shared case studies, reports and industry-led standards.
