Generative artificial intelligence
is having a significant impact on jobs in Hollywood, according to a study
surveying 300 leaders in the entertainment industry. The study reveals that
three-fourths of the respondents indicated that AI tools have supported the
elimination, reduction, or consolidation of jobs in their companies. Over the
next three years, the study estimates that nearly 204,000 positions will be
adversely affected.
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| JONATHAN RAA/NURPHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES |
The most affected roles include sound engineers, voice actors, concept artists, and employees in entry-level positions. Visual effects and other postproduction work are particularly vulnerable to displacement due to AI.
The Concept Art Association and the
Animation Guild commissioned the report, conducted by consulting firm CVL Economics,
in response to concerns from members about the impact of AI on their work. The
study took place from November 17 to December 22, and it reveals that concept
artists are increasingly being asked to "clean up" AI-generated works, leading to reduced billed hours
and a smaller pool of available jobs.
Nicole Hendrix, founder of the
advocacy group, highlighted the trend of role consolidation and reduction,
noting that many individuals are currently unemployed in the industry.
The report provides insights into the mainstream adoption of human-mimicking chatbots that can generate text, audio, and hyper-realistic images, and it sheds light on the labor effects of this technology. Sam Tung, a member of the Animation Guild and part of its AI task force, stated that the union will refer to the study in negotiations with studios when its contract expires in July, emphasizing the importance of protecting jurisdiction and addressing the use of generative AI.
Guardrails around the use of AI
have become a contentious issue in Hollywood, as evidenced by strikes by
writers and actors. The Animation Guild is expected to seek protections related
to AI in its new contract negotiations, while studios may push for AI
allowances. In November, Jeffrey Katzenberg, former Dreamworks founder,
predicted that technology could replace 90 percent of jobs on animated films.
According to the study, over
two-thirds of Hollywood firms are considered early adopters of AI.
Approximately one-third of respondents anticipate that AI will displace sound
editors, 3D modelers, re-recording mixers, and audio and video technicians
within three years. A quarter of respondents believe that sound designers,
compositors, and graphic designers are likely to be affected.
Looking ahead to 2026, a third of respondents predict that over 20 percent of all entertainment industry jobs, or roughly 118,500 positions, will be cut due to AI.
Tasks identified as most likely to
be impacted by AI include creating realistic sound design for film, TV, or
games; developing 3D assets; and creating realistic-sounding foreign-language
dubbing. On the other hand, tasks least likely to be affected include writing
film, TV, or game scripts, as well as performing music or vocals.
The report highlights visual
effects work as particularly vulnerable to displacement by AI tools. According
to the study, 80 percent of early AI adopters in the industry currently use the
technology in postproduction. For example, TrueSync can manipulate the movement
of performers' lips to accommodate dubbing in different languages. The report
suggests that the proliferation of such tools is "likely to suppress demand for multilingual voice actors."
Displacement by AI is expected in various stages of production. For instance, de-aging technology may replace the need for hair and makeup artists or younger actors in certain cases. AI tools could also be employed to streamline character design and storyboarding processes, potentially reducing demand for concept artists, illustrators, and animators.
The report notes that nearly 77
percent of respondents use AI image generators, allowing users to upload
landscape photos to virtual production screens or expedite rotoscoping in
postproduction. These tools find applications in 3D modeling, storyboarding,
animation, and concept art, among other areas.
Concerns related to the ability to
exploit material generated by AI tools are influencing decisions regarding job
cuts in favor of AI tools. While works created entirely by AI are not eligible
for copyright protection, material involving human input in the creation
process may be protected. This legal aspect provides a layer of protection for
concept artists and animators.
AI-related copyright issues contribute to the apprehension around AI adoption. Sam Tung notes, "There's still some apprehension around AI because of copyright issues. It could be a legal morass, and a savvy legal department may not want to open that can of worms."
Concept artists, in particular,
have experienced a decrease in job opportunities over the past year.
Testimonials from professionals in the field highlight instances where AI tools
have been used to generate concepts, impacting the demand for human concept
artists.
One artist mentioned that an
advertising company stopped hiring him after adopting AI tools that could
produce numerous concept iterations rapidly. Another artist shared an
experience where a game studio used AI tools to generate character designs
based on specific keywords, prompting the artist to "fix" the AI-generated designs.
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