Artificial Intelligence: Revolutionizing filmmaking without replacing human creativity

Panaji: The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Will Artificial Intelligence Alter Filmmaking Forever?” at Kala Academy. Moderated by renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, the session featured Indian filmmaker Anand Gandhi and Pragya Misra, Head of Public Policy and Partnerships at OpenAI, who explored AI’s transformative impact on cinema while emphasizing its role as a creative ally.

AI as a catalyst for innovation

The panel highlighted how AI is poised to reshape filmmaking by democratizing access to tools and enhancing creativity. Pragya Misra presented SORA, an AI-powered text-to-video model capable of generating lifelike videos from textual prompts. She demonstrated how AI can replicate intricate human expressions and cultural nuances, unlocking unprecedented creative potential.

Misra noted that tools like SORA could empower creators, making it easier to pitch ideas, secure funding, and bring culturally rich stories to global audiences.

Ethics and challenges in AI integration

The discussion also addressed concerns surrounding AI’s ethical use and its impact on human creativity. Misra emphasized that AI tools are designed to prevent misuse, such as replicating public figures’ faces, to avoid misinformation, hate speech, and discrimination.

Anand Gandhi acknowledged apprehensions that AI might stifle originality but argued that it acts as a co-author, enhancing rather than replacing the filmmaker’s role.

Shekhar Kapur: AI complements, not replaces, imagination

Shekhar Kapur stressed the enduring uniqueness of human creativity. “Human imagination is born from uncertainty, emotions, and complexities,” Kapur said, contrasting it with AI’s deterministic nature. He warned against outsourcing human thought to machines, framing it as a human challenge rather than an AI flaw.

Kapur compared AI’s integration to earlier technological revolutions, such as tractors in agriculture and digital payment systems, highlighting its potential to augment rather than replace human capability.

A new era of filmmaking

The session underscored the transformative potential of AI in filmmaking while reaffirming the irreplaceable value of human creativity.

Misra described AI as an assistant that refines creative expression, enabling individuals to ideate and execute their vision more effectively. She noted that even with identical inputs, AI-generated results vary, mirroring the diversity of human interpretation.

A balanced perspective

The discussion concluded with a consensus that while AI will revolutionize filmmaking, it will remain a tool to amplify human creativity, not a substitute for the depth of human imagination.