Generative AI Headlines
North America dominates AI film market with $500m in revenue and a 40% global share. Moonvalley Unveils Marey AI Video Tool for Filmmakers.
North America dominates AI film market with $500m in revenue and a 40% global share
The global market for artificial intelligence in film reached an estimated $1.8bn in 2024, according to analysis by Market.us, as studios increasingly turn to AI for production, post-production, and distribution. From automated editing and script analysis to CGI rendering and predicting audience behaviour, AI is rapidly changing the way films are made and consumed, with the technology now seen as a means to cut costs, streamline workflows, and enhance storytelling. Analysts predict that the market will surge to nearly $14.1 billion by 2033, growing at an annual rate of 25.7%, driven by demand for faster content delivery, cutting-edge visual effects, and more personalized viewing experiences.
North America maintained its lead in the AI in film market in 2023, accounting for over 40% of the global share and generating approximately $500 million in revenue. The region’s dominance is credited to its early and widespread adoption of AI by major studios and streaming platforms, which have invested heavily in technologies for script analysis, VFX automation, content personalisation, and real-time translation. The presence of leading AI developers and a sophisticated post-production sector has further cemented North America’s reputation for innovation. A strong network of research institutions and tech startups, often working in partnership with production companies, has accelerated the development and commercialisation of creative AI tools. Meanwhile, a flexible regulatory environment and robust intellectual property protections in the US have provided fertile ground for experimentation and the rollout of generative AI across the film industry.
Moonvalley Unveils Marey AI Video Tool for Filmmakers
Moonvalley, founded by former DeepMind researchers, is making inroads into the film industry with its AI film studio, Asteria Film Co., launched this year by filmmaker and actor Natasha Lyonne and director Bryn Mooser. Asteria has played a key role in developing Moonvalley’s AI model, Marey, now available to filmmakers by subscription. Created in collaboration with industry professionals and trained entirely on licensed material, Marey is intended to address the ethical and copyright considerations that have shaped the conversation around AI in creative industries. This approach positions Marey as a potential entry point for wider AI adoption in Hollywood, offering studios a tool that supports both innovation and responsible content creation.
Moonvalley, which counts Khosla Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners among its backers, has raised more than $100m to date. Its AI film studio, Asteria, is already putting Marey to work on a new documentary about Carl Sagan, using the technology to restore and refine archive footage. According to Talukdar, Marey is also being trialled in pilot schemes at more than a dozen major studios and is attracting interest from leading advertising firms.
In November, Moonvalley raised $70 million in seed funding from Silicon Valley investors including Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, and Bessemer Venture Partners. The capital will support the development of its AI video technology for filmmakers.
Denmark to introduce new copyright law targeting deepfakes
Denmark is set to become the first country in Europe to give people the right to copyright their face, body, and voice, in a landmark move to tackle the spread of AI-generated deepfakes. The Danish government, which has secured overwhelming cross-party support, will put forward a proposal to amend copyright law before the summer, with a formal amendment expected in the autumn. The law would allow individuals to demand the removal of deepfake content from online platforms if it is shared without their consent, and would make it illegal to distribute realistic digital imitations of artists’ performances without permission. Victims would be entitled to compensation, while parodies and satire would remain exempt. Culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said the legislation was necessary as technology had outpaced existing laws, and warned tech platforms could face severe fines for non-compliance. Denmark also intends to champion similar protections at the EU level during its forthcoming presidency.
BBC threatens legal action against Perplexity for unauthorized content use
The BBC has issued a legal threat against US-based AI startup Perplexity AI over the alleged unauthorized use of its content to train artificial intelligence models. In a letter to Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, the broadcaster claims to have evidence that its material was scraped and used without permission. The BBC demands that Perplexity immediately cease using its content, delete any copies held, and propose financial compensation. Perplexity rejected the accusations as “manipulative and opportunistic,” arguing that it does not create or train its own AI models but provides an interface to models developed by third parties such as OpenAI and Google. This confrontation comes amid wider industry calls for tech companies to secure licences before using copyrighted content to train AI, reflecting growing tensions between media organisations and AI firms over intellectual property rights. The BBC’s move marks its first direct legal challenge in this area, signalling a tougher stance on protecting its digital content from AI-driven scraping.
AI to restore 100 classic kung fu films and debut first fully AI-made animated feature
Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and Jet Li could soon be seen on screens worldwide once again, thanks to new AI technology unveiled at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. The China Film Foundation, alongside industry partners, has announced two major projects as part of its Kung Fu Film Heritage Project: a sweeping plan to restore 100 classic martial arts films using artificial intelligence, and the debut of “A Better Tomorrow: Cyber Border,” described as the world’s first fully AI-produced animated feature. The restoration initiative will see AI used to digitally remaster a century’s worth of kung fu cinema, enhancing image and sound quality while staying true to the original artistry and storytelling. Organisers say the project represents a long-term commitment to preserving and revitalising the cultural legacy of Chinese martial arts films for new generations of audiences.
Equity warns legal action over actors scanned without consent
Thousands of UK actors have been “digitally scanned on set without their informed consent”, according to an open letter from the actors’ union Equity, which is calling for stronger protections as it resumes talks with producers over the use of artificial intelligence. The letter, signed by actors including Emma D’Arcy, Tamsin Greig, Alan Davies, Nicola Walker, and Wilf Scolding, was published ahead of a fresh round of negotiations between Equity and the producers’ trade body Pact on new collective agreements, with AI safeguards proving a major sticking point after a year of talks. Equity has stepped up its campaign in recent months, with General Secretary Paul Fleming warning the union is “industrial action ready” if talks fail, and threatening legal action against the BBC, ITV, Disney, and Pact should members’ rights be breached in the training of AI models.
Judge rules in favour of Meta in AI copyright lawsuit by authors
A US judge has ruled in favour of Meta in a copyright lawsuit brought by a group of authors, marking the second legal win for the American artificial intelligence industry this week. Writers, including Sarah Silverman and Ta-Nehisi Coates, had accused the Facebook owner of using their books without permission to train its AI systems, arguing this amounted to copyright infringement. However, US District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco found the authors had not provided sufficient evidence that Meta’s AI would harm the market for their work by creating similar material. The judge ruled that Meta’s use of the books constituted “fair use” under US law, meaning no copyright liability applied. The decision follows a similar ruling earlier in the week in favour of AI company Anthropic, which also faced claims from authors over the use of their work.
Ginger Liu is the founder of Hollywood’s Ginger Media & Entertainment, a researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, and an entrepreneur, author, writer, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Listen to the Podcast — The Digital Afterlife of Grief.