Entertainment giant Lionsgate has announced a new partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) company Runway to leverage AI technology for film and TV production. This collaboration will see Runway’s AI models trained on Lionsgate’s extensive archive of films and television series, including hits like The Hunger Games and John Wick.
Lionsgate, known for its innovative approaches in the entertainment industry, aims to utilize the resulting AI technology to streamline and enhance its content creation processes. Michael Burns, Vice Chair of Lionsgate, emphasized the strategic benefits of the partnership, stating that Runway’s AI will help the studio develop “cutting-edge, capital-efficient content creation opportunities.”
However, the announcement has sparked controversy within the industry. The Hollywood actors’ strike earlier this year was partly driven by concerns over the impact of AI on job security and creative control. Critics argue that the integration of AI could exacerbate these issues, potentially leading to job losses and diminishing the quality of creative work.
Helen Delzany, a writer and producer, expressed her concerns, stating, “We’re already seeing a lot of job loss in the creative industries, and that is only going to get worse. The greater tragedy is how stale film and entertainment may become.” Actor Alexander Chard echoed these sentiments on X (formerly Twitter), asserting, “Our words, performances, and direction are merely to feed the machine until we’re no longer needed.” Some users on the platform described the collaboration as “vile” and “disgusting.”
In contrast, some industry professionals view the partnership positively. PJ Acetturo, a producer and CEO of an AI entertainment company, praised the deal as an “amazing” development that bridges the gap between AI and film production.
Runway has attempted to address concerns by emphasizing that AI will be used to assist, rather than replace, creative professionals. Cristóbal Valenzuela, Runway’s co-founder and CEO, assured that AI is intended to “significantly accelerate one’s progress through creative challenges” by solving specific tasks, not by replacing entire jobs. “Artists are always in control of their tools,” Valenzuela added.
Despite these assurances, Runway faces additional scrutiny. The company is currently involved in a legal battle over alleged copyright infringement, with accusations that it improperly stored images used in AI image generation systems. A recent US district judge ruled that Runway is part of a group of AI firms accused of illegally storing images.
In a related incident, a London cinema was forced to cancel a screening of an AI-written film in June following negative backlash. The evolving debate around AI’s role in the creative industries continues to provoke strong reactions and calls for careful consideration of its implications.
