Artificial intelligence is akin to a “Wild West” with “very few rules,” yet it holds the potential to “democratize” the film industry in the long run. This perspective was shared by Rob Minkoff, director of the 1994 animated film “The Lion King,” in a conversation with CNBC.
He suggests that production and filming costs could be reduced by minimizing the need for expensive equipment.
“I think AI has the potential to democratize the content creation process, because if literally everyone gets these incredibly powerful tools, we will see a real explosion of content, an explosion of new voices,” said the director, who also made “Stuart Little” (1999) and “The Haunted Mansion” (2003).
Minkoff added that new technologies have been a source of fear for those in the film industry for decades. For instance, the advent of computer animation in the 1990s was feared for its potential to eliminate jobs.
“From the very beginning, it became quite clear that if people want to maintain their personal significance in the industry, it becomes important for them to really learn and adapt to changes in technology. We are experiencing something similar with AI now,” he noted.
According to the expert, artificial intelligence will not replace all directors, and its capabilities are often exaggerated. However, there are legitimate concerns regarding copyright and intellectual property protection.
Previously, director Paul Trillo used OpenAI’s Sora to create the first AI-generated music video for indie artist Washed Out.
In August, experts expressed concerns about the potential loss of millions of jobs due to AI.