Hollywood’s relationship with artificial intelligence just got a lot more official. As studios continue experimenting with digital recreations, de-ageing technology and AI-assisted performances, award
bodies are now stepping in to define where exactly they draw the line. And the latest update comes from the Golden Globe Awards.
Weeks after an AI-generated version of Val Kilmer appeared in the trailer of the upcoming action film As Deep As The Grave, organisers of the Golden Globes have announced fresh eligibility rules around AI use in performances. The awards body clarified that while artificial intelligence can be used for certain enhancements, performances created substantially through AI will not qualify for awards consideration.
The Golden Globes, originally launched by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and later acquired by Dick Clark Productions
in 2024, officially addressed the issue on Thursday. The ceremony, which traditionally kicks off Hollywood’s awards season every January, stated, “Submissions in which a performance is substantially generated or created by artificial intelligence are not eligible.”
At the same time, the organisation made it clear that AI tools themselves are not entirely banned from filmmaking or acting submissions. According to the newly released guidelines, “The use of AI for technical or cosmetic enhancements (such as de-ageing, ageing, 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.”
The move comes shortly after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also tightened its rules around AI in cinema. The Academy recently confirmed that only human performers are eligible for acting honours at the Academy Awards, ruling out AI-generated avatars from contention. It also clarified that screenplays competing for Oscars must be written by humans rather than AI chatbots.
The debate around AI in entertainment intensified further after the trailer launch of As Deep As The Grave, which featured a digitally recreated version of the late Val Kilmer. In one scene from the trailer, the AI-generated Kilmer tells another character: “Don’t fear the dead and don’t fear me.”
The film’s makers reportedly worked closely with Kilmer’s family, who supported the project and provided access to the actor’s video archives. The footage was then used to recreate the actor at different stages of his life for the archaeological action film.
Artificial intelligence continues to remain one of Hollywood’s most debated topics. In fact, concerns around unchecked AI usage became a major issue during the 2023 Hollywood strikes, when actors and writers raised fears over technology potentially replacing creative professionals and affecting long-term livelihoods.
