Lights, camera, AI: How artificial intelligence is changing Hollywood

It’s no secret that artificial intelligence has been the buzzword of the past few years, grabbing headlines and taking centerstage. But it’s not just tech giants implementing AI into business practices — it’s slowly been changing the way Hollywood operates, too.

From digital replicas potentially replacing actors to AI-driven personalized content and immersive viewing experiences, AI is reshaping Hollywood by changing how movies are both made and experienced. While pushing creative boundaries, it also raises concerns about job security and authenticity, prompting the industry to balance innovation with protecting human creativity.

AI’s casting call

When you imagine Hollywood actors and their lives, you probably think of A-listers like Emma Stone or Leonardo DiCaprio living a life of complete luxury. However, that’s not the reality for most people working in the industry. SAG-AFTRA’s union rate is only $187 a day for background actors, a stark difference to what movie leads make.

The use of AI to replace background actors or extras was brought into the spotlight in the summer of 2023 when SAG-AFTRA went on strike to fight for better pay and workers’ rights.

Reports started to circulate that background actors on sets were being required to report to trailers that had hundreds of cameras inside, all there to take 3D body scans. From there, their digital replicas were created and could potentially be used in other films or scenes without the actor’s consent or potentially without additional pay. In some cases, if the extra declined the request, they were sent home without pay, Variety reported. This caused deep worry within the community as thousands of people became concerned that AI was coming for their jobs.  

After months of striking, the union agreed to a contract that established protections for actors against AI replacement, particularly for background performers. The agreement introduced rules for two types of "digital replicas:" those created with the performer's participation and those generated independently using existing materials. Both require explicit, informed consent, with separate approvals needed for uses beyond the original production.

The contract also prevents digital replicas from replacing background actors and mandates negotiations for AI-generated "synthetic performers." These measures work to ensure fair compensation and safeguard actors' rights as AI technology evolves, but the situation continues to raise important questions about how AI will affect all kinds of jobs, including perhaps once unexpected positions like background actors.  

Critically acclaimed AI

It’s no secret that the 2025 award season has been filled with enough drama to create a movie of its own. From resurfaced mean tweets to the lack of an intimacy coordinator on one set, there was plenty to talk about. One topic stood out from the other issues, as it has not been a concern or relevant question in the past — does AI have a place in critically acclaimed films?

Both Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” and A24’s “The Brutalist” dominated award nominations this year. While the recognition by voting groups came as no surprise to many, controversy swirled when it was revealed that the software company Respeecher was used in both films to alter different actors’ voices.

The use of AI in the production of “Emilia Pérez” was first revealed in May during an interview with the film’s sound mixer, Cyril Holtz, at the Cannes International Film Festival. Holtz revealed that the team worked with Respeecher to implement voice cloning techniques, working to enhance the vocal range of the film’s lead character, played by Karla Sofía Gascón. To improve her range, Gascón’s voice was blended with Camille’s, a French singer and co-writer of the film’s music.

During awards campaigning season, the controversy surrounding the use of AI in “The Brutalist” surfaced after editor Dávid Jancsó discussed the film’s use of Respeecher technology in an interview. AI was used to improve the Hungarian dialect spoken by stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, particularly to fine-tune the difficult accent. While production initially tried using traditional automated dialogue replacement to resolve the issue, but it didn’t work, leading them to explore AI options.

The film’s director Brady Corbet quickly defended the use of AI, clarifying that it was only employed for refining the Hungarian dialogue to preserve the authenticity of the actors' performances, not to replace them.

While the use of AI in both films did not prevent them from winning major awards this season, the discussion about the integrity of actors' performances when AI is involved remains a hot topic in the industry, as technology continues to evolve and be utilized in various ways.

At the heart of every film are the people — the actors, creatives and writers who bring stories to life. While AI brings exciting advancements to Hollywood, the industry will likely continue grappling with how to use the technology to ensure it maintains the core of the cinematic experience: the human touch.