A recent report from CVL Economics has highlighted the potential repercussions of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) advancements on employment within the film and animation sectors. The study surveyed 300 industry leaders and revealed widespread consensus that Gen AI could lead to the elimination, reduction, or consolidation of roles.
Industry Leaders Predict Job Impact
The introduction of Gen AI, which can create various content types like images, text, and music through machine learning, is anticipated to impact sound designers the most, with 55% of respondents forecasting significant effects within three years. Other professionals like music editors, sound technicians, and engineers are also seen as at risk, and a third of the leaders are concerned for lyricists, composers, and studio engineers.
Following ChatGPT’s release in mid-2023, unions representing writers and actors initiated a strike in response to the AI advancements that threatened job security. The strike was fueled by companies’ use of content and actor likenesses to train AI, raising fears of job replacement without safeguards.
The Future of Entertainment Workforce
Despite recent successful negotiations with producers’ alliances, WGA and SAG-AFTRA members remain anxious about Gen AI’s potential impact. The report suggests that within the next three years, nearly half of industry executives believe Gen AI will adeptly produce 3D assets and sound designs, while over 40% predict realistic foreign language dubbing capabilities. Moreover, 39% expect that AI will be capable of producing music mixes and masters by 2026.
Notwithstanding the industry’s advancements, the early part of 2024 has already seen job cuts at major companies like Riot Games, Unity Software, Amazon MGM Studios, Pixar, and Universal Music Group, with expectations of further layoffs on the horizon.