Last summer, Amazon MGM Studios launched a dedicated AI studio to develop unique AI tools to streamline TV and film production, focusing on areas such as improving shot-to-shot character consistency and supporting pre- and post-production.
As reported by Reuters, these tools can now be leveraged beyond internal testing. Amazon will launch a closed beta program in March, inviting industry partners to try out the AI tool.
Amazon said it expects to share the program’s first results by May. When asked for comment by TechCrunch, the company chose not to reveal development details.
AI Studio is working with notable producers like Robert Stromberg of Maleficent fame, Kunal Nayyar of The Big Bang Theory, and former Pixar animator Colin Brady to learn how best to implement these tools. Amazon is also using Amazon Web Services for support and plans to work with multiple LLM providers.
Albert Cheng, head of the AI Studios initiative, emphasized that the goal is to support creative teams, not replace them. The focus is on increasing efficiency and reducing costs while ensuring that intellectual property is protected and AI-generated content is not absorbed into other AI models. One example used is Amazon’s “House of David” series, which featured 350 AI-generated shots in season two.
However, the increasing adoption of AI in Hollywood has sparked a lot of debate. Many people in the industry are worried about what that means for jobs, creativity, and the future of filmmaking.
The conversation around AI will only grow as more companies experiment with these new tools. Netflix, for example, has also jumped on the AI bandwagon, with co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealing that the company used generative AI to create a building collapse scene in its series “The Eternaut.”
Amazon has cited its success with AI as a factor in layoffs in recent years. The company recently cut 16,000 jobs in January, following 14,000 layoffs last October.
