A24 and Google DeepMind start $75 million AI research partnership

In short: A24 has agreed to a $75 million research partnership with Google DeepMind to develop new tools for making movies, and some fans are angry about it.

What happened

The film studio A24 has started a $75 million research partnership with Google DeepMind, Google’s artificial intelligence lab. The Wall Street Journal first reported the deal, and A24 confirmed it to WIRED.

A24 says the work will happen through A24 Labs, a technology group overseen by A24 cofounder Scott Belsky. In an email to WIRED, A24 communications lead Sophia Shin called it a research partnership focused on building and testing new “tools and workflows.” Workflows are the step by step process teams use to get a movie made, like a checklist for a complex project.

A24 also said this is not about letting people generate A24-style movies on demand using AI (software that can produce text, images, or video). Shin said A24 does not like many current AI results on screen, and that the focus is more on behind the scenes help.

The announcement has triggered a backlash from some A24 fans on X, including posts criticizing the studio and even promises to pirate upcoming films. The reaction stands out because A24 has a strong fan culture compared with most studios.

Why it matters

AI companies are spending more money in Hollywood, and this deal is another sign of that. Supporters often say these tools can speed up work, but critics worry they could replace entry level jobs and pressure studios to use cheaper, machine-made content. For moviegoers, the key question is whether partnerships like this change how films get made, who gets paid, and what ends up on screen.

Source: Wired