Alphabet and Meta Platforms are negotiating with major Hollywood studios to license content for their advanced AI video generation technologies. According to Bloomberg, these discussions involve substantial financial incentives to secure the necessary partnerships.
AI Video Generation Technology
The core of these negotiations lies in AI systems capable of generating video content from textual descriptions. Google and Meta are developing technologies that can create lifelike video scenes without traditional filming, aiming to transform content creation. By licensing existing Hollywood content, these companies hope to train their AI models to produce realistic and contextually accurate scenes.
The financial stakes are high, with offers reportedly reaching tens of millions of dollars. Warner Bros. is considering these proposals, while Disney and Netflix have opted out. The significant financial offers highlight the potential value of AI-generated content for both the technology and entertainment industries.
Competitive Landscape
OpenAI, supported by Microsoft, is also in similar discussions with Hollywood studios. The company’s Sora AI is being used as a leveraging point in negotiations with studios. This reflects a broader industry trend where AI developers seek to utilize existing media assets to enhance their AI capabilities. Neither Alphabet, Meta, nor OpenAI have disclosed specifics about these negotiations.
Hollywood studios are exploring AI to reduce costs while safeguarding intellectual property. However, they remain cautious about relinquishing control over their content. The recent case of Scarlett Johansson demanding OpenAI stop using a voice resembling hers in its chatbot underscores the concerns of actors and creators about AI technology.
Recent Deals and Industry Reactions
News Corp. has agreed to allow OpenAI to use content from its publications in a deal valued at over $250 million over five years. While Disney and Netflix have shown interest in other types of collaborations, they are not willing to license their content. New AI tools like OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo promise to elevate AI capabilities in Hollywood, enabling filmmakers to create vivid and hyper-realistic clips from minimal descriptions.
The potential impact on jobs and the need for industry regulations have generated both excitement and anxiety in Hollywood. Tyler Perry, an actor, filmmaker, and studio owner, has called for the industry to unite and develop regulations to ensure survival in the face of AI advancements. The music industry has taken a firm stance against AI use, with Universal Music Group suing AI startup Anthropic for allegedly copying song lyrics.
Major studios have yet to sue tech companies over AI use, as they explore ways to make AI work for them rather than fighting against it. One challenge in licensing content to AI companies is the potential tension between studios and their creative partners. Studios believe they have the right to license their movies, but actors and creators may want approval rights if their likeness or voice is used in AI models.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 8:10 pm CET