Featured Articles
Reel AI: Erik Barmack’s biweekly article for The Ankler
The Oscars’ AI Lie: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Erik Barmack’s Reel AI Column from The Ankler
INTRO TO AI
Quick Explainers on Basic AI Terms and Tools
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Hollywood’s First Real AI Credit Fight
Why a quiet end-title dispute matters more than any demo
Taylor Swift and the New Rules of AI Enforcement
Why celebrity power, not law, is shaping how platforms police synthetic likeness
Scarlett Johansson and the Line Hollywood Refuses to Cross
Why one voice dispute quietly reset AI risk tolerance across studios
Google’s Veo Moves Quietly Into Hollywood (Copy)
Why sound has become the industry’s first AI compromise
Sora 2 and the Talent Takedown
How OpenAI’s latest video model is forcing Hollywood’s unions into uncharted territory
Olivia Williams Calls for ‘Nudity Rider’-Style Rules for AI Body Scans
Olivia Williams says actors need ‘nudity rider’-type controls for AI body scans
Zelda Williams Blasts AI Videos of Robin Williams as “Disgusting, Over-Processed Hotdogs”
The actor-director says viral deepfakes mimicking her late father exploit grief and artistry, reigniting Hollywood’s fight over posthumous likeness rights.
Disney’s Lawyers Strike Back: Character.AI Ordered to Delete Fan-Made Elsa, Moana, and Darth Vader Bots
The takedown draws a legal boundary between fandom and infringement, signaling how aggressively studios will guard signature voices and personalities in the conversational-AI era.
European Voice Actors Rally Against AI Dubbing, Warn of Artistic Decay
Voice performers across Europe—including veteran dub actor Boris Rehlinger—are mobilizing against the unregulated use of AI for content localization, arguing that emotion and nuance can’t be automated.
Matthew Lawrence Proposes AI Revival of Robin Williams’ Voice—Daughter Objects
Matthew Lawrence, who starred alongside Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire, suggests resurrecting Williams’ iconic voice via AI for assistance technology, sparking heated debate over consent and posthumous portrayal.
Natasha Lyonne Leads Hollywood’s Fight Over AI Copyright as Creators Demand Protections
Natasha Lyonne rallied over 400 industry figures to pressure the White House on AI copyright reform, pushing Hollywood to assert control over generative models and protect creator value.
Calum Worthy and Producer Russell Geyser Launch 2wai, Letting Celebrities Control Their AI Doppelgängers
Disney Channel alum Calum Worthy and veteran producer Russell Geyser unveil 2wai, a platform for users—including entertainers—to own AI chat avatars that mimic their likeness and voice across 40+ languages, aiming to beat deepfake risks.
Blackpink’s Jennie Triumphs Over AI-Generated Imposter Scam
Singer Jennie secures a legal win against a fraudster who impersonated her, exposing how AI-generated content can be weaponized to spread false celebrity claims and sell fabricated narratives.
Disney and Universal Take a Hard Line Against AI Image Generation Firms
Disney and Universal claim Midjourney’s AI has reproduced iconic characters without permission, marking a turning point in entertainment’s legal strategy against unsanctioned AI use.
Video Game Voice Actors Union Reach Major AI Protection Deal
SAG-AFTRA secures new AI safeguards for video game voice and motion-capture actors, signaling broader entertainment industry protections—and a blueprint for unions working alongside technology.
Billie Eilish Addresses AI-Generated Met Gala Images
Billie Eilish clarifies that she was not present at the 2025 Met Gala, denouncing AI-generated images that falsely depicted her at the event and highlighting concerns over digital misinformation.
Deepfake Scams Exploit Celebrity Likenesses to Defraud Fans
Advancements in AI technology have led to a surge in deepfake scams, with fraudsters impersonating celebrities to deceive and exploit fans—highlighting urgent concerns around trust, regulation, and digital identity.
Robert Downey Jr. Warns Studios Against Unauthorized AI Likeness Use
The Marvel star says he’s ready to sue any studio or executive that uses his AI likeness without consent, joining a growing chorus of actors pushing back on digital replicas.
Who Owns AI-Created Stories? Hollywood Grapples With a Shifting IP Landscape
As AI tools generate more scripts, characters, and visuals, the entertainment industry faces mounting pressure to redefine ownership and protect creators in an increasingly synthetic storytelling era.
OpenAI Faces Consolidated Copyright Lawsuits from Authors and Media
Multiple copyright infringement lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft, filed by authors and The New York Times, have been consolidated in Manhattan federal court, alleging unauthorized use of copyrighted materials to train AI systems