Karen Idelson As the animation community deals with industry contraction, one force inspires more fear and uncertainty than any other: Artificial intelligence.
The Annecy Festival will screen four works using AI after receiving dozens of submissions that used the technology. Whether it’s concern that AI will make some animation jobs obsolete or replace humans altogether, there’s discussion about what it will mean not only for artistry but also workflow.
Some see AI as a tool to be mastered and carefully applied as issues surrounding copyright, creation and overall use are sorted out.
With all the questions AI raises, they view it as just another technological evolution. As one generation of artists had to contend with Photoshop and what it meant for digital imaging, this wave of artists will have to learn how to use AI. “At the end of the day, computers are expensive pencils,” says Cathal Gaffney, managing director of Dublin-based Brown Bag Films (“Dylan’s Playtime Adventures”). “They are a creative tool to assist artists to realize their vision.
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