Oscars Make It Clear: AI Actors and AI Screenwriters Cannot Win Awards

AI's Head-On Collision with the Oscars

While Hollywood is still fervently debating how AI will revolutionize the filmmaking process, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — the organization that governs the Academy Awards — has been the first to take a definitive stance: AI can participate in filmmaking, but it cannot win an Oscar in place of a human.

The Academy officially released new awards eligibility requirements on Friday regarding the use of artificial intelligence in films, a move that has drawn widespread attention across the industry.

The Core of the New Rules: Human Creativity Is Irreplaceable

According to the Academy's latest guidelines, AI-generated performances are ineligible for acting categories such as Best Actor and Best Actress. Similarly, screenplays entirely written or predominantly generated by AI cannot compete for writing awards such as Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The underlying logic of these rules is unmistakable: the Oscars are meant to honor "human creativity and artistic achievement," not the capabilities of technological tools. The message the Academy seeks to convey is that no matter how advanced AI technology becomes, the soul of cinematic art still resides in human creators' emotional expression, intellectual depth, and artistic judgment.

Notably, however, the new rules do not impose a blanket ban on AI use in filmmaking. AI can still serve as an assistive tool in visual effects, post-production, and other aspects of film production. It is only when it comes to core creative domains — acting and screenwriting — that the Academy insists human contribution must remain central.

Industry Context: Hollywood's Anxiety Amid the AI Wave

The introduction of these rules is no coincidence; it represents Hollywood's systematic response to the rapid infiltration of AI technology.

In recent years, generative AI has advanced at breakneck speed. From deepfake technology capable of simulating actors' facial expressions and voices to large language models that can automatically generate complete screenplays, AI is transforming every facet of filmmaking at an unprecedented pace. In 2023, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) launched major strikes, with AI's threat to creators' rights being one of the central issues.

The strikes ultimately ended with studios making significant concessions on AI usage, but the debate over AI's role in the entertainment industry is far from over. The Academy's new rules can be seen as a continuation of this industry-wide struggle, now extending into the realm of the "honors system."

Meanwhile, multiple films that heavily utilized AI technology have sparked controversy worldwide. Some producers have experimented with using AI to generate supporting performances or rewrite scripts with AI tools to cut costs — practices that have deeply unsettled traditional creators. The Academy's new rules, to a certain extent, set a values benchmark for the industry: technology may advance, but respect for and protection of human creators must not be compromised.

Controversy and Reflection: Where Is the Line?

While the direction of the new rules is clear, their practical implementation still faces considerable challenges.

First, there is the question of how to define the boundary between "AI-assisted" and "AI-generated." If a screenwriter uses AI tools for brainstorming, generates a first draft, and then substantially rewrites it, does that count as human creation or AI creation? If an actor's performance has been enhanced through AI-powered facial augmentation or age modification, does it still qualify as a "genuine performance"?

Second, as AI technology and human creativity become increasingly intertwined, more and more "human-machine collaboration" gray areas are likely to emerge. How the Academy will audit and verify the degree of AI involvement in a given work will be an ongoing technical and ethical challenge.

Industry insiders have noted that the Academy may need to establish dedicated review mechanisms requiring submitted films to disclose specific details about their use of AI technology to ensure effective enforcement of the rules.

A Global Signal: A Governance Model for AI in the Arts

As the world's most influential film award, the Oscars' stance on AI carries a powerful demonstrative effect. This decision will impact not only Hollywood but also the global film and television industry, and even the broader cultural and artistic landscape.

From the Grammy Awards to major literary prizes, an increasing number of arts institutions are facing similar dilemmas. The Oscars' approach provides them with an important reference point: embrace technological progress, but uphold the core value of human creativity.

In an era where AI's capabilities continue to expand, this may be the most visionary answer the arts world can offer — trophies belong to creators, not to the tools creators use.