Google Woos Hollywood Studios With AI Tools Licensing Deals

Hollywood studios are in talks with Google over licensing their intellectual property for use in AI models. The tech giant has been making overtures to major studios such as Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery, but no agreements have been reached yet.

Google's AI tools could help studios cut costs and improve production efficiency, but there are concerns about how talent and unions would react to the technology. Some studios have already sued AI companies over copyright infringement, including a $1 billion lawsuit filed by Viacom against Google in 2007.

The Mountain View-based company has invested $75 million into A24, a studio behind Academy Award-winning films such as 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' and 'Moonlight', as part of a strategic partnership to collaborate on AI tools. This move is seen as an effort by Google to gain credibility in Hollywood and spark a partnership between the two.

However, some studios are wary about participating in Google's AI technology due to concerns about losing control over their intellectual property. The use of AI-generated content also raises questions about job displacement for talent such as writers, directors, and actors.