Matthew Belloni says AI is already part of everyday work in Hollywood

In short: Hollywood is arguing about AI in public, but Matthew Belloni says many people are already using it behind the scenes.

What's going on

In an interview with Wired, entertainment reporter Matthew Belloni said AI has quietly become common in Hollywood. He described two main uses. One is “corporate AI,” meaning tools that help with everyday office work, like searching for information or speeding up routines.

The other is “generative AI,” which can create new text, images, or video (like a machine that can draft a rough scene when you give it instructions). Belloni said some writers use tools like ChatGPT to suggest jokes, plot ideas, or descriptions of places. He also said the Writers Guild is generally okay with this as long as a human writer is still credited and jobs are not cut.

Belloni said the bigger disruption may come first in animation. He said generative tools can help create storyboards and early versions of scenes without as many artists. He also pointed to Netflix saying on an earnings call that 300 shows use generative AI.

He also described a stigma around AI use. Belloni cited an example where an Amazon creator faced strong online backlash after being linked to an AI-focused studio effort.

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Belloni suggested the fight is shifting from “will Hollywood use AI” to “who controls it.” That includes legal battles over copyright and control of a performer’s face and voice. It also includes business deals, like Netflix buying Ben Affleck’s AI startup for $587 million, which Belloni framed as both a product bet and a credibility play.

Source: Wired