OpenAI, the cutting-edge artificial intelligence lab, is making its way into Hollywood with “Sora,” its text-to-video model. Set for public release later this year, Sora can convert textual descriptions into realistic videos. The technology has already caught the attention of several Hollywood stakeholders, including producer Tyler Perry who put on hold an $800 million expansion of his Atlanta studio after experiencing its potential.
Impressed yet concerned, Perry expressed his astonishment at Sora’s capabilities, but also voiced apprehensions about its potential impact on the industry’s workforce, highlighting the need for protective measures for creative professionals.
With plans to integrate Sora into Hollywood productions, OpenAI is facing backlash from industry creatives who fear their job security might be threatened. Despite this resistance, OpenAI maintains its aim to work collaboratively with the industry, using a phased implementation approach to ensure safety and give stakeholders an idea of what’s coming.
This development comes as AI’s influence within the entertainment industry is expanding, raising serious debates about its potential to alter traditional workflows and job roles. Last year’s Hollywood writer’s strike demonstrated that there’s a resistance to AI job replacements, even as directors seem more welcoming of the technology in an attempt to control production costs.
The introduction of Sora into Hollywood has sparked controversy, with queries about how it was trained and the origin of its data arising. Furthermore, concerns are escalating over potential job losses in the creative sector, with a study predicting about 204,000 job losses across the American entertainment sector due to AI integration by 2026. This accounts for about 21% of jobs in film, television, and animation and includes roles in 3D modeling, character design, and voice generation.
The discourse surrounding Sora and AI’s role in the entertainment industry brings forth both an excitement for future prospects and a worry about what will be lost in the transition. The challenge that persists is how to use AI like Sora to further creativity rather than replace it, an aspect many believe to be implausible.
