The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion, Will Artificial Intelligence Alter Filmmaking Forever?, bringing together visionaries from the world of technology and cinema to explore the evolving intersection of AI and filmmaking.
Moderated by acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, the session featured Anand Gandhi, filmmaker and entrepreneur, and Pragya Misra, Head of Public Policy and Partnerships at OpenAI.
The discussion opened with Kapur acknowledging the fluid understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential. He drew parallels between AI and historical technological advancements, likening it to the adoption of tractors in farming and digital payments like UPI, emphasizing technology’s role as a tool to enhance human potential.
OpenAI’s Pragya Misra demonstrated SORA, a cutting-edge text-to-video AI model capable of generating realistic videos from text prompts. She highlighted its potential for creative storytelling, ethical safeguards, and its ability to democratize access to sophisticated filmmaking tools.
Anand Gandhi predicted AI’s deeper integration into filmmaking, envisioning a future where AI acts as a co-author in the creative process. He also spoke about AI’s utility in resurrecting ancient texts and pitching ideas to global platforms.
Addressing concerns about AI stifling creativity, Kapur stated, “AI has a long way to catch up to human imagination because human imagination is born out of uncertainty, love, fear, but for AI, everything is certain.” He emphasized that reliance on AI should not replace human thought but instead serve as a creative enabler.
Misra framed AI as an intelligent assistant that amplifies human creativity, noting that tools like SORA can generate unique results even from identical prompts, mirroring human diversity in interpretation.
The session concluded with the panel unanimously agreeing that while AI offers transformative opportunities in filmmaking, it cannot replace the depth of human creativity. Instead, it serves as a powerful ally, enhancing storytelling and democratizing access to filmmaking resources.
Credit: This article is based on the IFFI 2024 panel discussion.
Key Highlights:
- Shekhar Kapur moderated a panel on AI and filmmaking at IFFI 2024.
- OpenAI’s Pragya Misra demonstrated SORA, a text-to-video AI tool.
- Anand Gandhi highlighted AI’s potential as a co-author in film creation.
- The panel agreed AI can enhance, but not replace, human imagination.