Tyler Perry halts $800 million studio expansion after being shocked by OpenAI’a Sora
Tyler Perry halts $800 million studio expansion after being shocked by OpenAI’a Sora.
Tyler Perry has halted an $800 million (£630 million) expansion of his Atlanta studio complex following the release of OpenAI's video generator Sora, warning that the film industry will likely see significant job losses due to artificial intelligence.
The renowned US film and TV mogul had been in the process of adding 12 sound stages to his studio but has now put those plans on hold indefinitely after witnessing the capabilities of Sora, which he described as "shocking."
"All of that is currently and indefinitely on hold because of Sora and what I’m seeing," Perry stated in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. "I had gotten word over the last year or so that this was coming, but I had no idea until I saw recently the demonstrations of what it’s able to do. It’s shocking to me."
Sora, launched on February 15 with limited access to researchers and video creators, amazed many with its ability to generate realistic footage up to a minute long from simple text prompts.
Perry, known for successes like the Madea film series, remarked that Sora's advancements mean he may no longer need to travel to locations or construct sets: "I can sit in an office and do this with a computer, which is shocking to me."
Demonstrations released by OpenAI showcased photorealistic scenes in response to prompts such as requesting a shot of people walking through "beautiful, snowy Tokyo city" with "gorgeous sakura petals flying through the wind along with snowflakes."
Perry emphasized that Sora's impact would extend across various film industry roles, including actors, editors, sound specialists, and transportation crew.
He expressed deep concern over the potential loss of jobs, stating, "I am very, very concerned that in the near future, a lot of jobs are going to be lost. I really, really feel that very strongly."
Perry cited an immediate example of construction workers and contractors who would no longer be needed for his studio expansion plans. He also mentioned using AI in two recently filmed movies to age his face and reduce time spent in the makeup chair.
Recent strikes by Hollywood actors and writers have raised concerns about AI's impact on jobs, with the peace deals ending those disputes including provisions regarding the use of technology.
Perry emphasized the need for a comprehensive industry-wide approach to protect jobs, stating, "It can’t be one union fighting every contract every two or three years. I think that it has to be everybody, all involved in how do we protect the future of our industry because it is changing rapidly, right before our eyes."