STORY: Amazon plans to use AI to speed up the process of making movies and TV shows, even as Hollywood fears AI will lead to job cuts and permanently reshape the industry.
Reuters has learned exclusively that Amazon is planning to launch a closed beta program for AI-driven filmmaking tools in March, inviting industry partners to test the AI tools, and expects to have results to share by May.
Amazon's AI Studio will fast-track certain processes to make TV shows and movies more efficiently in the face of spiraling production budgets.
That includes improving character consistency across shots, and integrating AI with industry-standard creative tools.
The initiative is being led by veteran entertainment executive and AI Studio chief Albert Cheng, who described it as a "startup" operating under the "two pizza team" philosophy of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos - which means keeping the group small enough to be fed by two pizzas.
Cheng told Reuters that while he "fundamentally" believes AI can accelerate innovation, it won't replace the "unique aspects" that humans bring to the creative process.
The move to adopt AI comes as A-list actors like Emily Blunt have expressed fears about its rise -- specifically, creations like AI actress Tilly Norwood making their jobs obsolete.
