Period drama “The Brutalist” has sparked controversy after revelations that AI technology was used to enhance Hungarian language pronunciation and create architectural designs, leading to debate about its awards eligibility.
The central controversy: Director Brady Corbet’s film faces scrutiny after editor Dávid Jancsó revealed the use of AI technology to refine Hungarian dialogue pronunciation for leads Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.
- The AI adjustments focused solely on Hungarian language segments, using technology from Ukrainian company Respeecher to improve specific vowels and letters
- The film’s total budget was under $10 million, with AI technology employed to expedite post-production work
- Both actors worked extensively with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to develop their Hungarian accents
Director’s defense: Corbet strongly maintains that the performances remain authentic and unaltered in their essence.
- Corbet emphasizes that no English language dialogue was modified
- The AI adjustments were described as a “manual process” conducted during post-production
- The director stresses that the goal was to preserve authenticity rather than replace or alter performances
Technical implementation: Native Hungarian speaker and editor Dávid Jancsó provided insight into the practical application of AI in the film.
- Jancsó used his own native Hungarian pronunciation as a reference model for the AI system
- The process primarily involved replacing specific letters rather than wholesale dialogue changes
- AI was also utilized to generate inspiration for architectural drawings, though the final designs were hand-drawn by artists
Industry precedent: Respeecher, the AI company involved, has previously worked on high-profile projects in Hollywood.
- The company created authorized voice recreations for James Earl Jones as Darth Vader
- They also developed a younger version of Mark Hamill’s voice for “The Mandalorian”
- These previous projects established precedent for AI use in major productions
Public reaction: The revelation has sparked intense online debate about the role of AI in award-worthy performances.
- Some argue that AI enhancement should disqualify Brody from awards consideration
- Others maintain that the emotional depth of the performance transcends accent technicalities
- Critics have generally praised both Brody and Jones for their portrayals, with Brody winning a Golden Globe
Looking forward: The controversy surrounding “The Brutalist” raises important questions about the intersection of traditional filmmaking and emerging technologies, particularly as AI tools become more sophisticated and accessible. While the specific use of AI in this case was limited and transparent, the debate highlights the need for clearer industry guidelines regarding technological enhancement of performances and its impact on awards eligibility.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...