Oscars Mandate Human Authorship for Acting and Writing Awards
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has updated its rules to require that all acting and writing for Oscar-eligible films be human-authored.
Key Takeaways
- Establishes a clear industry standard distinguishing between human-led creative work and AI-automated content for the world's most prestigious film awards.
- Reflects growing legal and labor tensions in Hollywood regarding the use of generative AI and copyright concerns.
- Provides a framework for how major institutions will evaluate the role of AI in creative processes moving forward.
Oscars bans AI actors and writing from awards
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially updated its eligibility requirements to mandate that only work performed or authored by humans can be considered for an Oscar. As artificial intelligence technology continues to see expanded use within the film industry, the Academy clarified that acting must be "demonstrably performed by humans" and writing "must be human-authored" to qualify for nomination.
A substantive shift in policy
The Academy described these new requirements as a "substantive" change to its existing rules. While the organization has long navigated the integration of new technologies in filmmaking—such as the widespread use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) since the 1990s—the rise of generative AI has prompted a specific distinction. Unlike CGI, which the Academy views as a manual process perfected by humans, AI tools are designed to automate creative work through simple prompts.
This policy update arrives amid ongoing industry tensions regarding the role of automation. During the writers' strike two years ago, the use of AI to generate scripts was a central point of contention between Hollywood studios and creative unions. Furthermore, various Hollywood actors and authors have initiated lawsuits against AI companies, alleging copyright infringement based on the use of human-created content to train large language models.
AI use in other film categories
While the Academy has drawn a firm line regarding acting and writing, it has not issued a total ban on the use of AI in film production. For other categories, the Academy stated that the use of AI tools "neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination."
Instead, the Academy and its respective branches will evaluate achievements based on the degree of human creative authorship involved. The organization noted that if questions arise regarding the use of generative AI in a project, it reserves the right to request additional information to determine the nature of that use.
The evolving landscape of performance
The Academy’s decision comes as high-profile projects increasingly experiment with AI to recreate human likenesses. For instance, the late actor Val Kilmer is set to be recreated using AI technology for a lead role in an upcoming film. Additionally, London-based actor and comedian Eline van der Velden previously reported the creation of an entirely fake AI actor intended to reach global stardom.
By formalizing these eligibility rules, the Academy aims to maintain a clear standard for human contribution in the most prestigious categories of the US film industry. As the technology continues to evolve, the Academy’s focus remains on ensuring that the creative heart of an award-winning film remains distinctly human.