Amazon MGM Studios to test AI production tools in upcoming closed beta
Amazon MGM Studios will launch a closed beta program in March to test proprietary AI tools for TV and film production with industry partners. The tools, developed by its AI Studio launched last summer, target streamlining production, character consistency across shots, and pre- and post-production support.
The AI Studio initiated operations last summer to create tools specifically designed for internal use in Amazon’s TV and film projects. According to Reuters, these tools have completed internal testing phases and progressed to external evaluation. Amazon plans to share initial results from the beta program by May.
Key collaborations involve producers Robert Stromberg, recognized for directing Maleficent, Kunal Nayyar, known from The Big Bang Theory, and Colin Brady, a former Pixar animator. These partnerships aim to identify optimal implementation methods for the AI tools in production workflows. Amazon integrates support from Amazon Web Services and plans engagements with multiple large language model providers to enhance tool capabilities.
Albert Cheng, head of the AI Studios initiative, stated that the tools intend to support creative teams rather than replace them. Priorities include boosting efficiency, lowering production costs, safeguarding intellectual property, and preventing AI-generated content from integration into external AI models. These measures address concerns over content ownership in AI applications.
An application example appears in Amazon’s series House of David, where season two incorporated 350 shots generated by AI. This usage demonstrates practical integration in a live production, handling visual elements that required extensive rendering.
AI adoption in Hollywood has generated discussions among industry professionals regarding effects on employment, creative processes, and filmmaking practices. As additional companies test AI technologies, these conversations intensify. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos disclosed that the series The Eternaut employed generative AI for a building collapse scene, illustrating similar experimentation by competitors.
Amazon referenced its AI advancements as contributing to workforce reductions. The company executed 16,000 job cuts in January, succeeding 14,000 eliminations in the prior October. These actions occurred amid ongoing integration of AI into operational strategies.