"AI neither helps nor it..." says Academy Awards on using AI for movies at the Oscars

Oscars

The Oscars have officially stepped into the AI conversation. On Monday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — the body behind the Academy Awards — made it clear where it stands on the growing use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking.
For the first time, the Academy has addressed the role of generative AI in movies. The new rules say that using AI tools won’t directly help or hurt a film’s chances of getting nominated. But here’s the catch — the Academy made it clear that the more human creativity involved in making a film, the better its chances when it comes to final judgment.

In simple terms: they still want the heart of a movie to be human.

Interestingly, while there were talks about asking filmmakers to openly declare how much AI they used, the Academy decided not to make that mandatory — at least for now.

This move comes as AI use in Hollywood has become a huge topic of debate. In recent months, unions for writers and actors fought hard for protections against AI in their contracts. And earlier this year, controversy erupted when The Brutalist, a film that went on to win three Oscars, was found to have used AI to enhance Hungarian accents. While some praised it as innovative, others saw it as crossing a line.

Big names like James Cameron have used AI in filmmaking, while others, like Demi Moore, have faced backlash — Moore recently apologized after using an AI app to turn her dog into a human in a photo, sparking criticism online.

Alongside the AI update, the Academy also tightened its rules around public communication. Going forward, no one connected to an Oscar-eligible film is allowed to publicly criticize the techniques or themes used in other movies.

The next Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien, are set for March 15, 2026 — and it looks like AI will keep being part of the conversation.