The Oscars has landed squarely on the fence about the use of AI in potentially nominated films.
Following a widely publicised controversy around the use of artificial intelligence in Best Picture nominees The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez, the Academy has made its position of impartiality clear.
In the latest update to the Oscars rules, released on April 21 to apply to the upcoming 98th Academy Awards set for March 2026, there's an addition to the "Eligibility" section:
"With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination.
The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which movie to award."
Essentially, AI won't help films get nominated for an Oscar, nor hinder their chances. Then, it will be up to the Academy's voters to decide whether the movie deserves the award.
Brady Corbert's Best Picture nominee The Brutalist found itself amid public debate in January when editor Dávid Jancsó revealed in an interview he had used AI software by Respeecher to refine the Hungarian pronunciation of actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones (the former of whom won Best Actor). Jancsó also said that AI was used to create architectural sketches by Brody's protagonist Laszlo Toth. But The Brutalist wasn't alone, with Best Picture nominee Emilia Pérez also confirmed as having used AI to fine-tune lead Karla Sofia Gascón's singing voice.
It's a neutral decision from the Academy during a time where the use of generative AI has sat firmly at the top of the list of concerns for Hollywood. During the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes, it was (and remains) a core issue.
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There's a few more rules added to the new Oscars rules, too. In probably the most "uhhh what?" update of the Oscar rules, the Academy specifies that "members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars." Actually watching all the nominees in the category you're voting on? Groundbreaking. As The Hollywood Reporter explains, the Academy will actually track what members are watching on the Academy Screening Room streaming platform to make sure they haven't skipped a movie.
There's a small update for the Oscars' new category for best casting. Defined as "the process by which a casting director collaborates with a film’s director and producers on the creative consideration, and selection of actors who comprise the acting ensemble of a film," the award will allow "a maximum of ten films" on the nominee shortlist.
Plus, the best international film category also got an update, with filmmakers with refugee or asylum status now allowed to be represented by a country outside of their home when submitting. The Academy specified in the rules, "The submitting country must confirm that creative control of the film was largely in the hands of citizens, residents, or individuals with refugee or asylum status in the submitting country."
