The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has introduced new Oscar rules that make AI-generated actors and AI-written scripts ineligible for Academy Awards.
Under the updated rules, only performances that are credited in a film’s legal billing and clearly performed by human actors with their consent can qualify for Oscars. This means a fully AI-generated actor, or a digital performance not demonstrably performed by a real human, will not be eligible.
The Academy also said screenplays must be human-authored to qualify. In simple terms, scripts created by generative AI cannot compete for writing awards. The organization also reserves the right to ask filmmakers for more information about how AI was used in a film and whether the work was created by humans.
The decision comes as Hollywood continues to debate the growing role of AI in movies. An independent film using an AI-generated version of Val Kilmer is already in development, while AI “actress” Tilly Norwood has attracted major attention. New AI video models have also raised concerns among filmmakers about the future of creative work.
AI was one of the biggest issues during the Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strikes in 2023, with both groups demanding stronger protections against the use of their work, likenesses, and writing without consent.
The debate is not limited to Hollywood. In publishing, at least one novel has been pulled by its publisher over apparent AI use, while some writers’ groups have also started saying that AI-assisted work should not be eligible for awards.
The Academy’s latest move sends a clear message: AI can be used as a tool in filmmaking, but the Oscars will continue to recognize human performance, human writing, and human creative authorship.
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