Last summer, Amazon's MGM Studios established a dedicated AI studio to develop proprietary AI tools aimed at streamlining television and film production. The focus is on enhancing character consistency across shots and supporting both pre-production and post-production workflows.
According to a Reuters report, these tools are now ready to move beyond internal testing. Amazon will launch a closed testing program in March, inviting industry partners to trial its AI solutions.
The company indicated that it expects to share initial results from this program in May. When contacted by TechCrunch for further details on the development, Amazon declined to comment.
The AI studio is collaborating with notable producers and creatives, such as Robert Stromberg (known for "Maleficent"), Kunal Nayyar ("The Big Bang Theory"), and former Pixar animator Colin Brady, to learn how best to implement these tools. Amazon is leveraging Amazon Web Services for support and plans to partner with multiple large language model providers.
Albert Cheng, overseeing the AI studio initiative, emphasized that the goal is to support creative teams, not replace them. The focus is on improving efficiency and reducing costs while ensuring intellectual property is protected and AI-generated content is not ingested by other AI models. An example cited is Amazon's "The House of David" series, where the second season incorporated 350 AI-generated shots.
However, the adoption of AI in Hollywood has sparked significant debate. Many industry professionals are concerned about its implications for jobs, creativity, and the future of filmmaking.
As more companies experiment with these new tools, discussions surrounding AI are intensifying. For instance, Netflix has also entered the AI arena, with its Co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealing that its series "The Forever" used generative AI to create a building collapse scene.
In recent years, Amazon has cited its success in AI as a factor in workforce reductions. The company recently cut 16,000 positions in January, following a layoff of 14,000 employees last October.
