The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially updated its rules for Oscar nominations, introducing a strict barrier for artificial intelligence. According to the new regulations, only humans are eligible to compete for the golden statuette in major categories. This decision marks an important step in protecting traditional creative professions amid the rapid advancement of technology.

The rules now clearly state that only real, living actors and screenwriters are eligible for the award. The main changes affect two areas:

• Acting: only performances physically carried out by humans with their explicit consent will be considered. Digital replicas and characters fully generated by AI are not allowed to compete.

• Screenwriting: scripts must be written by human authors. The use of chatbots to create either the draft or final version of a script disqualifies a project from award consideration.

The immediate trigger for clarifying these rules was the recent trailer for the film “Canyon Del Muerto,” in which AI was used to recreate a younger version of actor Val Kilmer. Despite support from his family, the case sparked widespread debate about the boundaries of acceptable use. Additionally, the use of AI was a central issue during the large-scale Hollywood strikes of 2023, when industry professionals voiced concerns about threats to their jobs.

This decision reaffirms that the Oscars remain the highest recognition of human talent and craftsmanship. For movie lovers, it guarantees that award-winning films will preserve the emotional depth unique to human performance. For industry professionals, it signals the continued importance of authorship and human labor in the age of digital transformation.

ORIENT