Golden Globes Close the Curtain on AI Actors

If you thought Hollywood was just going to start handing out shiny trophies to digital faces, think again. The folks who run the Golden Globes have made it official: AI-generated performances are a no-go when it comes to getting nominated. Not exactly shocking, but hey, I guess it needed to be spelled out, just in case someone tries to sneak a chatbot onto the red carpet.

In fact, the Golden Globes aren’t alone. The Oscars—the mothership of movie prizes—just doubled down on the same stance: only human actors can win. The only thing your favorite virtual influencer is eligible for is more Instagram followers. Sorry, Tilly Norwood.

So, what's allowed (and what isn’t)?

Here’s how the Golden Globes laid it out:

'Submissions in which a performance is substantially generated or created by artificial intelligence are not eligible. The use of AI for technical or cosmetic enhancements (such as de-aging, aging, or visual modifications) may be permissible, provided the underlying performance remains that of the credited individual and AI does not replace or materially alter the performer’s work.'

Translation: studios can use AI to take a few wrinkles off, put some back on, or otherwise touch up the visual side of things, but the meat and potatoes of the performance has to come from a real, live actor. If AI is the one pulling all the strings, it’s out.

Oscars are on the same page

The Academy behind the Oscars came out with their own rules, basically echoing the Globes: if a performance is mostly built by AI, it doesn’t count. And just so there’s no loophole, they also banned AI-written scripts from winning any of the writing awards. Yes, they really had to say it.

AI actors are already a thing (sort of)

If you’re thinking 'Wait, are AI actors even out there yet?'—yep. Last year, a totally digital actress named Tilly Norwood started making the rounds. She was stitched together with a cocktail of more than ten different AI programs, and apparently talent agents in Hollywood actually tried to sign her. Guess the commissions were appealing.

On top of that, AI tech is even 'resurrecting' real actors. Case in point: you can watch the trailer for a film called As Deep As the Grave, which features the late Val Kilmer, who’s been brought back for a role via AI—with permission from his family. This kind of thing is only going to become more common. But no matter how convincing the computer-generated performance gets, there’s now a big, unmissable sign at the entrance to awards season: 'Humans only.'

Quick recap: Here’s what you need to know

• Major awards—Golden Globes and Oscars—explicitly ban AI-generated performances from being eligible for acting categories.
• Using AI for technical tweaks (think: making someone look younger/older) is fine, as long as a real person drives the performance.
• AI-written scripts are out of the running at the Oscars.
• AI actors like ‘Tilly Norwood’ and posthumous AI versions of real actors (like Val Kilmer) exist, but none can compete for actual awards.

That’s where things stand right now. Studios might keep experimenting with AI, but don’t count on any Golden Globes or Oscars going to a bot anytime soon.