Amazon is moving to bring artificial intelligence deeper into the way movies and TV shows are made, aiming to speed up production and reduce costs at its MGM Studio unit. The company plans to use AI tools across the creative process, even as Hollywood remains cautious of the technology’s potential impact on jobs and industry practices.
According to Reuters, Albert Cheng is leading a small team at what Amazon calls its “AI Studio,” focused on building proprietary tools to streamline everything from pre-production planning to post-production editing. In an interview, Cheng said the main goal of the AI Studio is to cut costs and improve creative workflows, while keeping writers, directors, actors, and other creative professionals involved at every step.
Amazon plans to invite industry partners to test its AI tools in a closed beta program in March, with initial results expected by May. The company is reportedly relying on its cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services, for assistance and plans to work with multiple large language model providers to give creators a range of tools for pre- and post-production filmmaking.
Company assures AI will not replace creative talent
Amazon says it is not trying to replace humans with AI, and that creative decisions will remain in human hands even as the tools automate more technical work. The initiative comes as production costs have risen sharply, making it harder for studios to finance large projects.
The AI Studio is collaborating with producer Robert Stromberg and his company Secret City, actor-producer Kunal Nayyar and his Good Karma Productions, and former Pixar and ILM animator Colin Brady as it tests new tools and explores the best ways to integrate them into production.