Lionsgate-Runway Deal is Raising Questions about the Future of Creative Jobs

AI partnership raises concerns for creative jobs: Lionsgate, the studio behind popular franchises like “John Wick” and “The Hunger Games,” has entered into a significant partnership with AI firm Runway, granting access to its extensive movie and TV library to develop an exclusive AI model.

Deal details and implications:

• Runway will use Lionsgate’s content to create an AI model capable of generating “cinematic video”
• Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns expects the technology to save the company “millions and millions of dollars”
• The partnership aims to use AI for tasks traditionally performed by humans, such as storyboarding and visual effects creation

Industry context and reactions:

• This is Runway’s first deal with a major Hollywood studio, potentially setting a precedent for future AI collaborations in the film industry
• The timing is controversial, as Lionsgate recently faced criticism for using AI-generated quotes from movie critics in a trailer for “Megalopolis”
• Runway itself has been involved in legal disputes over copyright infringement related to its AI training practices

Legal and ethical considerations:

• The deal allows Runway to avoid copyright issues by gaining authorized access to Lionsgate’s content library
• Recent legislation in California has expanded AI safeguards, making it illegal to use AI to replicate an actor’s likeness and voice without explicit permission
• The partnership comes in the wake of major strikes by actors and screenwriters, which resulted in landmark AI protections for creative professionals

Technical limitations and future potential:

• Currently, Runway’s AI tools are not capable of generating images of sufficient quality for use in movie and TV productions
• Access to Lionsgate’s extensive library may accelerate the development of more advanced AI capabilities for video generation

Broader implications for the film industry: This partnership represents a significant step towards AI integration in Hollywood, potentially reshaping various aspects of film and TV production while raising concerns about job displacement and creative control.

• The success of this collaboration could encourage other studios to pursue similar AI partnerships, potentially transforming traditional production processes
• As AI technology advances, it may lead to a reevaluation of roles within the film industry, particularly in areas like visual effects and storyboarding
• The tension between technological innovation and preserving creative jobs is likely to remain a central issue as AI continues to evolve in the entertainment sector