The day many have been predicting will come, is now here; Hollywood being completely disrupted by Artificial Intelligence.
Hollywood actor and entertainment mogul Tyler Perry has announced a pause on his ambitious $800 million expansion project for his Atlanta studio, a decision he says he took after watching the recent advances in AI.
Perry’s announcement presents a critical juncture in the entertainment industry, emphasizing the urgent need for regulation and ethical considerations as AI technologies, such as OpenAI’s text-to-video tool Sora, continue to evolve.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Tyler Perry shared his deep concerns over the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly mentioning the development of OpenAI’s Sora.
This groundbreaking text-to-video AI tool has prompted Perry to indefinitely delay the extensive expansion of his studio in Atlanta, which was set to include a significant increase in the studio’s backlot and the addition of 12 new soundstages.
The entire project cost was $800 million, quite a tidy sum for Atlanta and the state of Georgia to forego.
“Being told that it can do all of these things is one thing, but actually seeing the capabilities, it was mind-blowing,” Tyler said in the interview.
Perry’s decision reflects a broader industry-wide apprehension about AI’s potential to revolutionize traditional filmmaking processes and its implications for job security across various sectors.
Tyler revealed that he has been watching AI very closely, and his decision to pause the studio development came after he saw the capabilities of Sora.
“All of that is currently and indefinitely on hold because of Sora and what I’m seeing. I had gotten word over the last year or so that this was coming, but I had no idea until I saw recently the demonstrations of what it’s able to do. It’s shocking to me.”
Despite his reservations, Perry acknowledges the benefits of AI in filmmaking, citing personal experiences where AI technology played a pivotal role in his projects. He explains how AI facilitated aging effects in post-production for two of his upcoming films, eliminating the need for extensive makeup.
This utilization of AI showcases its potential to streamline certain aspects of production.
However, Perry remains wary of the broader implications of AI, particularly its capacity to displace human jobs in the industry, from actors to crew members involved in grip, electric, transportation, sound, and editing departments.
Tyler Perry’s cautious stance on the expansion of his Atlanta studio due to AI advancements, such as OpenAI’s Sora, marks a significant moment in the entertainment industry’s ongoing dialogue about technology’s role and its potential consequences.
As Perry continues to explore AI’s capabilities through his work, his call for regulation and ethical consideration sets a precedent for how the industry might navigate the intricate balance between innovation and humanity.
