Amazon Plans to Use AI to Slash Film Production Times But Denies It Will Replace Humans

Amazon is set to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite the production of films and television programmes, aiming to curtail escalating costs and enhance efficiency. This move, spearheaded by Amazon MGM Studios, comes amid a broader industry struggle with ballooning budgets that limit the scope for creative risks.

Veteran executive Albert Cheng, who oversees the initiative, has assembled a dedicated AI Studio team to develop bespoke tools that integrate seamlessly into the creative process. The AI tools are designed to address key bottlenecks in pre- and post-production, such as maintaining character consistency across various shots.

Amazon is collaborating with its Amazon Web Services (AWS) division and multiple large language model providers to offer a versatile suite of options. This collaborative approach extends to industry partners, including acclaimed producers like Robert Stromberg of Maleficent fame and his Secret City outfit, actor Kunal Nayyar's Good Karma Productions, and former Pixar animator Colin Brady.

These partnerships aim to refine the tools through real-world application, ensuring they augment rather than overshadow human creativity.

Beta Testing and Practical Applications

As reported by Reuters, a closed beta programme is slated to launch in March, inviting select industry collaborators to trial the AI capabilities. Initial feedback and results are expected by May, providing a rapid timeline for iteration and deployment.

The AI Studio operates under Jeff Bezos's 'two pizza team' ethos, comprising a compact group of product engineers, scientists and creative personnel. This lean structure is intended to foster agility in tool development.

An early exemplar of AI's potential is evident in the second season of the biblical series House of David. Director Jon Erwin employed AI in conjunction with live-action footage to generate expansive battle scenes, allowing for cost-effective expansions during editing.

Such applications illustrate how AI can slash production timelines—potentially reducing months of work to weeks—while minimising costs for visual effects and reshoots. Cheng highlighted the economic imperatives, stating, 'The cost of creating is so high that it really is hard to make more and it really is hard to take great risk,'—a sentiment that reflects the broader Hollywood landscape, where financial pressures have intensified post-pandemic.

Denials Amid Job Fears

Despite the enthusiasm, Amazon has been emphatic in denying that AI will supplant human roles. Cheng asserted, 'We fundamentally believe that AI can accelerate, but it won't replace, the innovation and the unique aspects that (humans) bring to create the work.'

The company insists that writers, directors, actors and designers will remain integral at every stage, with AI positioned as a supportive tool rather than a standalone creator. This stance aims to alleviate concerns in an industry still reeling from the 2023 writers' and actors' strikes, which partly focused on AI's encroachment into creative domains.

However, scepticism persists. High-profile figures like actress Emily Blunt have voiced apprehensions about AI's implications, including the emergence of AI-generated performers such as the fictional Tilly Norwood, which has drawn condemnation from Hollywood's performers' union.

Amazon's wider AI integration across its operations has coincided with substantial redundancies, including approximately 30,000 corporate positions since October 2025, its largest-ever cuts and reductions at Prime Video. These developments fuel fears that efficiency gains could translate to fewer opportunities for human labour, reshaping the workforce dynamics in film and television.

Broader Industry Implications

Amazon's foray into AI-driven production signals a potential paradigm shift for Hollywood, where competitors like Netflix and Disney are also exploring similar technologies. By accelerating workflows, the initiative could enable more diverse storytelling and risk-taking, democratising access to high-quality production tools. Yet, it raises ethical questions about authorship and originality in an era of machine-assisted creativity.