Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing every aspect of society today. Some find it to be a helpful tool, while others are losing their jobs because of it. Its presence is especially controversial in art and has reshaped the answer to the question: What does it mean to be an artist?
This debate gained fresh focus when American actor Adrien Brody won his second Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Lázló Toth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect and holocaust survivor, in The Brutalist (2024).
Initially, the film received immense praise, but opinions of the movie quickly flipped on Jan. 11, when Dávid Janscó, the film’s editor, revealed in an interview with Red Shark News that they used the Ukrainian artificial intelligence known as Respeecher to alter both Brody’s and co-star Felicity Jones’s Hungarian accents.
This confession only added to the ever-growing conversation surrounding AI in art and whether or not it should be tolerated. Some viewers thought that the film’s use of AI, as well as the cast and crew’s initial silence on it, felt disingenuous. Conversely, others supported the film’s use of AI, pointing out that Hungarian can be a difficult language and accent for Americans to learn. They felt that an inaccurate accent would draw the viewer out of the story and take away from the film’s message.
Brody himself contributed to this debate, explaining that AI is simply a filmmaking tool used in the same way that lighting and makeup are. “There was no technology implemented that takes work from people. It’s quite a typical post-production process. I think we all know the truth,” Brody said in an interview with IndieWire.
This interview, released on Feb. 4, may have settled things temporarily, but the disagreement was quickly rekindled on Mar. 2 when Brody received his Best Actor Oscar. Critics felt that Adrien Brody should not have won Best Actor for a role that was not entirely his, especially because so much of his praise initially came from his ability to learn Hungarian for the film.
Because of the disagreements surrounding this film, people are now posing the idea that movies using artificial intelligence in any form should not be judged in the same fashion as traditionally made movies are. These people are not necessarily claiming that AI should never be used in a movie-making process, but that its use should be disclosed to the public and considered by critics.
Artificial Intelligence is an invention that has undeniably altered countless parts of our everyday lives already. In filmmaking, it can be a helpful tool that enhances movies quickly and easily. But it could also replace jobs altogether, causing actors and screenwriters to fear for their futures.
For better or worse, it will inevitably be used and continue to alter our art and media down the road. Suggesting that Artificial Intelligence should never be used in any artistic endeavor is unrealistic. However, advocating for some regulation and transparency around its use is not. Having specific policies that limit AI’s use in art and media and ensure its disclosure could prevent a lot of confusion and controversy in the future.
