Google is venturing into the film industry with significant financial investments, and indeed, AI plays a role in this.
Google has made its inaugural investment in a film studio.
Google is putting approximately $75 million into A24, the studio responsible for recent successes such as Backrooms and Obsession, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
This investment is paired with a new collaboration focused on AI research between A24 and Google DeepMind, Google’s AI research division.
What this entails for A24’s future films
According to Google DeepMind, the objective is to combine a top AI research lab with a studio that is very supportive of filmmakers, allowing the creatives to influence technology rather than the reverse.
Filmmakers at A24 will have direct access to DeepMind’s research and tools, while DeepMind will receive genuine feedback from active directors as they develop new resources collaboratively.
DeepMind's cofounder and CEO, Demis Hassabis, states that collaborating with artists from the outset is the most effective way to create tools that truly empower them.
Importantly, this agreement does not grant Google access to A24’s current film and television library or its data, ensuring that your favorite A24 films remain unaffected.
Reasons for Google’s choice of A24
Over the past decade, A24 has cultivated a brand that resonates with audiences, as surveys show that more than half of moviegoers identify as fans of the studio itself rather than just particular films. Currently, A24 is also preparing for its most ambitious project yet, a $175 million adaptation of Elden Ring directed by Alex Garland.
This agreement comes amidst a broader trend of studios embracing AI. Notably, Martin Scorsese has recently joined AI startup Black Forest Labs as an adviser, utilizing its technology for storyboarding on an upcoming film.
In addition, Netflix has discreetly established its own AI animation division, INKubator, aimed at producing AI-generated shorts and specials. OpenAI has gone even further by supporting an AI-assisted animated project titled Critterz, which is making its way to Cannes, created on a $30 million budget using OpenAI’s tools from beginning to end.
Regardless of the outcome of the A24 partnership, it is evident that even the trendiest independent studios are now engaging with AI.
Manisha Priyadarshini is a technology and entertainment writer with more than nine years of editorial experience.
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Google is venturing into the film industry with significant financial investments, and indeed, AI plays a role in this.
Google is investing approximately $75 million in A24 as part of a new collaboration with Google DeepMind focused on creating filmmaking tools through AI research.
