Everything You Need To Know About The Oscars’ AI Controversy

The red carpet isn’t the only thing getting a digital upgrade—this year’s Oscars are set to be a pivotal moment in Hollywood’s ongoing debate about artificial intelligence. While AI-generated scripts and deepfake technology have been hot-button issues for years, this awards season is highlighting a new concern: AI-assisted filmmaking.

Several Oscar-nominated films, including The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez, used AI in post-production, sparking both curiosity and controversy. As AI tools become more sophisticated, the industry faces an existential question—where should the line be drawn between innovation and artistic integrity?

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AI’s Growing Role in Hollywood

AI is no longer a futuristic concept in filmmaking—it’s already here, quietly reshaping everything from voice dubbing to special effects.

According to RedShark News, The Brutalist used AI to fine-tune actors’ Hungarian accents for authenticity. “I am a native Hungarian speaker, and I know that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn to pronounce,” editor Dávid Jancsó told Business Insider. While his explanation aimed to reassure purists, it instead fuelled online debate about AI’s role in altering performances.

Similarly, AI was reportedly used to enhance Karla Sofía Gascón’s voice in Emilia Pérez, and it played a part in creating the Fremen’s glowing blue eyes in Dune: Part Two.

This is all happening as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences considers adding transparency rules that would require filmmakers to disclose when AI is used in production. Variety reported that new Oscars submission guidelines for AI use could be introduced as early as 2026.

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A Shift in Artistic Recognition?

AI’s presence in filmmaking is now a major factor in how movies are judged.

Robert Thompson, professor at Syracuse University’s Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture, explained to Business Insider that AI could change how performances are evaluated. “Whoever is doing nominations or voting in any organisation that’s giving out awards is going to have to figure out if they have a zero tolerance for artificial intelligence,” he said.

For some, like entertainment insider Warner Bailey, the need for transparency is crucial. “Disclosing when and how AI was used doesn’t necessarily diminish a work’s value, but it does provide clarity for audiences, industry professionals, and award committees,” he told Business Insider.

 

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Not Just Another Hollywood Tech Evolution

Cinema has always evolved alongside technology, from CGI to motion capture. But AI is different—it doesn’t just enhance a filmmaker’s vision; it can replace parts of the creative process entirely.

This fear was at the heart of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, where actors and writers fought for protection against AI’s potential to automate storytelling. Despite efforts to regulate it, AI’s momentum hasn’t slowed.

Lionsgate, the studio behind The Hunger Games, recently announced a partnership with AI media company Runway to develop a custom AI model trained on its vast film catalogue. It’s clear that major studios see AI as a tool for the future—not a threat to be avoided.

So, Is AI Here to Stay?

It’s not a matter of if Hollywood will embrace AI, but how quickly.

Even OpenAI’s ChatGPT acknowledges AI’s growing role in filmmaking. “AI is already playing a growing role in various aspects of filmmaking, and it’s likely to be involved in nearly all movie productions in some capacity moving forward,” it stated in a response to Business Insider.

However, it added a key disclaimer: “Full automation of moviemaking is unlikely, as human creativity and artistic vision remain essential.”

For now, AI is just another tool in Hollywood’s expanding digital arsenal. But whether it remains a supporting player or takes centre stage? That’s a story only time—and perhaps next year’s Oscars—will tell.