Tyler Perry is one of the biggest names in the world of Hollywood right now and a true African American success story for many, as he is truly a self-made man. He loves the film industry but is apprehensive about the usage of AI, which is why he recently warned people how AI could ruin jobs.
The advent of AI in the current world is seen as both a boon and a curse for many reasons, as it can have just as many negative points as it can have positive ones, largely removing the human factor in many jobs.
Tyler Perry Is Apprehensive About AI’s Effect On The Film Industry
Tyler Perry has halted an $800 million expansion of his Atlanta studio complex due to concerns over the impact of OpenAI’s video generator, Sora. The film and TV mogul, expressing alarm at Sora’s capabilities, has paused plans to add 12 sound stages, warning of potential job losses in the film industry to artificial intelligence.
While speaking in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Tyler Perry revealed that his massive expansion of the Atlanta studio complex is on hold because of Sora, admitting that the AI’s capabilities truly shocked him.
“All of that is currently and indefinitely on hold because of Sora and what I’m seeing. had gotten word over the last year or so that this was coming, but I had no idea until I saw recently the demonstrations of what it’s able to do. It’s shocking to me.”
The AI tool, launched on February 15 with restricted access, amazed many with its capability to generate realistic one-minute footage from basic text prompts. Perry, known for successes like the Madea film series, expressed that Sora’s achievements eliminate the need for him to travel to locations or build sets. He noted, “I can sit in an office and do this with a computer, which is shocking to me.”
Tyler Perry Warned How Many Jobs Would Be Affected Due To AI
OpenAI, the creator of the groundbreaking ChatGPT chatbot, has released demonstrations showcasing photorealistic scenes generated in response to prompts. For example, requesting a scene of people walking through a “beautiful, snowy Tokyo city” produces visuals where “gorgeous sakura petals are flying through the wind along with snowflakes.”
Perry expressed his concern that the advancements showcased by Sora would impact various jobs in the film industry, including those of actors, editors, sound specialists, and transportation crew.
“I am very, very concerned that in the near future, a lot of jobs are going to be lost. I really, really feel that very strongly.”
Perry cited an immediate example, noting that construction workers and contractors for his planned studio expansion would no longer be needed due to AI. He also mentioned incorporating AI in two recently shot films, where the technology was utilized to age his face, saving him hours in the makeup chair.
However, Tyler Perry emphasized to the Hollywood Reporter that a comprehensive industry-wide approach is still necessary to safeguard jobs in the future.
“It can’t be one union fighting every contract every two or three years. I think that it has to be everybody, all involved in how do we protect the future of our industry because it is changing rapidly, right before our eyes,” he said.
We will have to wait and see whether Hollywood will pay heed to Tyler Perry’s advice and somehow manage to save future jobs from the advent of AI.
