The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences updated its eligibility rules in April 2025 to explicitly allow films made with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to compete for Oscars, a decision that has brought the industry’s increasing reliance on the technology into sharper focus as this year’s awards season progresses.
According to the Academy’s official guidelines, the leverage of generative AI and other digital tools “neither helps nor harms” a film’s chances of nomination. Judging will center on “the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship,” the Academy stated. This stance, as reported by The Ankler, has effectively created a “don’t ask, don’t tell” environment, where productions are not required to disclose their AI workflows, and campaigns decide what information to share with voters.
The least contentious applications of AI in filmmaking currently involve post-production tasks such as dialogue cleanup, sound balancing, and image stabilization – efficiencies that save time without fundamentally altering the creative intent. However, the use of AI to modify performances, particularly vocal and facial characteristics, is proving more sensitive.
Last year’s Best Actor winner, Adrian Brody, saw his performance in “The Brutalist” enhanced with AI-assisted voice technology to refine his Hungarian pronunciation. Filmmakers involved in the project emphasized that the technology was used for fine-tuning, not wholesale replacement of the performance. Similarly, the musical “Emilia Pérez” utilized AI to broaden a performer’s vocal range, a technique comparable to auto-tune, but one that raises questions about disclosure.
The use of AI is not without its critics. Marvel’s “Secret Invasion” faced backlash for its AI-generated opening credits, which were perceived as a replacement for human artistry. Indie horror film “Late Night With the Devil” also prompted clarifications from its filmmakers after reports surfaced regarding the use of AI-generated imagery. These instances highlight the reputational risks associated with AI aesthetics, as audiences appear more tolerant of invisible AI assistance than of overtly artificial creations.
The ethical implications of AI in nonfiction filmmaking are particularly acute. The 2021 Anthony Bourdain documentary “Roadrunner” sparked controversy when it was revealed that AI had been used to recreate Bourdain’s voice for certain lines, raising concerns about consent and the authenticity of documentary storytelling. As reported by the BBC, the Academy’s modern rules came after similar voice-cloning technology was used to enhance singing voices in the Oscar-winning musical “Emilia Perez.”
While there is no indication that the 98th Academy Awards telecast will feature generative AI on air, the Academy does utilize machine learning in areas such as live captioning, live audio description, and an ASL livestream on YouTube, enhancing accessibility for viewers. The captioning industry itself is evolving, incorporating AI to support human stenographers.
As Oscar voting gets underway, films like “Ahimsa” and “All Heart” are qualifying with generative AI, according to Deadline, marking a potential first in Oscars history. The Academy’s current position effectively acknowledges AI as Hollywood’s newest open secret: pervasive in the workflow, yet largely unacknowledged in public discourse. The most successful applications of AI thus far appear to be those that keep humans at the center of the creative process, with the technology serving as a tool rather than a replacement for human artistry.
