New Delhi, May 7 -- As part of a substantive change in rules, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has emphasized that only acting "demonstrably performed by humans" and "human-authored" writings will qualify for Oscar awards. The rules have been updated to address cases like that of an AI-generated version of the deceased actor Val Kilmer vying for an award.

Note that AI usage in Oscar-nominated movies in 2024 and 2025 focused on augmentation-including voice cloning and enhancement and visual effects-rather than creation. For example, in The Brutalist, AI had enhanced actors' Hungarian accents.

Moreover, the Academy didn't ban the use of AI in films; it said that AI techniques applied outside of performing and writing "neith...