AI-generated actors and scripts are now ineligible for Oscars

In a significant move, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled new regulations for the Oscars, specifically targeting the influence of generative artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Announced on Friday, these updated guidelines stipulate that only performances which are "credited in the film’s legal billing and demonstrably performed by humans with their consent" will qualify for Academy Awards. Additionally, the Academy has mandated that screenplays must be entirely "human-authored" to be considered for nominations. These changes reflect a growing concern within the industry regarding the role of AI, as the Academy reserves the right to request further information about a film's use of AI and the authenticity of its human authorship. The timing of these updates is noteworthy, as an independent film featuring an AI-generated version of actor Val Kilmer is currently in development. Furthermore, AI "actress" Tilly Norwood continues to capture media attention, while emerging video models have led to a wave of anxiety among filmmakers. Notably, AI concerns were pivotal during the actors’ and writers’ strikes of 2023. In a related context, a publisher has recently withdrawn a novel over suspected AI involvement, prompting various writers’ organizations to assert that such usage renders works ineligible for accolades.