VFX artists show that Hollywood can use AI to create, not exploit

The entertainment industry is buzzing with news of the potential of AI in film and television. From virtual effects to voice-recognition, the rise of AI technology has the potential to revolutionize the film industry. Yet the potential of AI to automate production processes and eliminate labor has also raised some alarm among those in the entertainment industry who worry that jobs will be replaced with artificial intelligence.

But a new wave of Visual Effects (VFX) artists have been demonstrating the way in which Hollywood can use AI to create, rather than to exploit. By leveraging the power of AI for astounding visual effects, VFX has become a powerful tool in Hollywood, creating vivid new landscapes and intricate new characters without the need for expensive CGI effects or human labor.

Take, for example, the work of American filmmaker Robert Stromberg. Through his company, Stromberg VFX, Robert has used the power of artificial intelligence to create surreal and stunning visual effects. His team deploys machine learning and deep neural networks to create visual elements that are indistinguishable from those done by humans. This technique makes it possible to build incredibly detailed and immersive visual effects in a fraction of the time and cost it would typically take to create with manual labor.

Not only has AI been used for high-budget features, but even lower-budget television shows and shorts have been able to harness the power of AI to create unbelievable visual effects. For example, the Emmy-winning show The Expanse used Machine Learning to generate background and crowd shots. This saved the production thousands of dollars in labor costs while allowing them to create stunning special effects.

The use of AI instead of human labor also brings up questions of ethicality. Some have raised concerns that forcing people to compete with AI for jobs may eventually lead to automation replacing their roles entirely. In response, advocates of VFX automation have argued that instead of replacing workers, AI opens up possibilities for VFX artists to collaborate more effectively with their teams. AI VFX tools can also serve to empower people further by augmenting their creativity and allowing them to push the boundaries of what is capable with CGI effects.

It’s clear that AI is here to stay and the entertainment industry will have to find new ways to embrace it. In the ever-changing landscape of technology, VFX artists are leading the charge in showing that Hollywood can use AI to create, rather than to exploit.