Amazon Brings AI Into Film and TV Production

• Amazon is developing new AI tools to accelerate film and television production as part of a broader effort to reduce costs and streamline workflows.
• The company plans to test these tools with industry partners beginning in March, with early results expected by May.
• The initiative aims to support creators rather than replace them, even as Hollywood debates the long‑term impact of AI on jobs.

Amazon Builds AI Tools for Its Studio Operations

Amazon has announced plans to integrate artificial intelligence into the production pipeline for movies and television shows. The initiative is led by Albert Cheng at Amazon MGM Studio, where a dedicated team is building tools designed to reduce expenses and speed up creative processes. The group operates under Jeff Bezos’s “two‑pizza team” philosophy, keeping the unit small and focused. Amazon expects to launch a closed beta program in March, inviting select industry partners to test the technology.

The company says the goal is to address rising production budgets that limit how many projects studios can greenlight. AI tools are intended to accelerate specific stages of production rather than replace creative professionals. Cheng emphasized that human input remains central to the process, with writers, directors, actors and designers involved at every step. Amazon plans to share early findings from the beta program by May.

Hollywood has been debating the role of AI, with some actors expressing concern about job displacement. Amazon acknowledges these fears but maintains that AI will serve as an assistive technology. The company argues that faster workflows could enable more experimentation and reduce financial risk. This approach aligns with Amazon’s broader push to integrate AI across its business units.

AI Studio Targets “Last Mile” Production Challenges

The AI Studio team is developing tools that bridge the gap between consumer‑grade AI systems and the precise control required for professional filmmaking. Cheng describes this as solving the “last mile” of production, where directors need consistent characters, accurate visual continuity and seamless integration with existing creative software. These tools are designed to support both pre‑production and post‑production tasks. Amazon says the technology will complement, not replace, established industry workflows.

The company is leveraging Amazon Web Services to support the computational demands of these tools. It also plans to work with multiple large language model providers to give creators flexibility in how they use AI. Protecting intellectual property is a key priority, and Amazon says it will ensure that AI‑generated content is not absorbed into external models. This safeguard is essential for studios that rely on proprietary assets.

Amazon has partnered with several industry figures to test and refine the tools. These include producer Robert Stromberg, actor‑producer Kunal Nayyar and former Pixar and ILM animator Colin Brady. Their involvement is intended to help shape practical applications for AI in real production environments. The company says these collaborations will guide how the tools evolve.

One example of AI‑assisted production is the series House of David. For its second season, director Jon Erwin used AI alongside live‑action footage to create battle scenes. The approach allowed the team to expand the scale of sequences while keeping costs manageable. Amazon cites this as an early demonstration of how AI can enhance visual storytelling.

AI Adoption Reflects Broader Shifts Inside Amazon

Amazon’s embrace of AI comes during a period of significant internal change. The company has encouraged nearly every division to explore AI applications, citing the technology’s potential as a factor in its decision to cut about 30,000 corporate jobs since October. Prime Video was among the units affected by these layoffs. Amazon argues that AI can help streamline operations and reduce long‑term costs.

Cheng believes AI could help Prime Video address challenges inherent in large‑scale film and television production. These include managing complex schedules, coordinating large teams and maintaining consistency across long projects. AI tools may help automate repetitive tasks, freeing creative teams to focus on higher‑level decisions. Amazon sees this as a way to increase output without compromising quality.

The company’s strategy reflects a broader trend across the entertainment industry. Studios are exploring how AI can support everything from script analysis to visual effects. Amazon’s approach emphasizes collaboration between human creators and AI systems. The company says this balance is essential to maintaining artistic integrity.

While the long‑term impact of AI on Hollywood remains uncertain, Amazon’s initiative signals that major studios are preparing for a future where AI plays a significant role. The company’s early experiments suggest that AI may become a standard part of production workflows. How quickly the industry adapts will depend on both technological progress and ongoing negotiations with creative professionals.

Amazon’s “two‑pizza team” model has been used for years to incubate new technologies inside the company. Some of Amazon’s most successful products, including AWS services, began as small internal teams operating under this structure. The AI Studio follows this tradition, suggesting Amazon sees AI‑driven production tools as a long‑term strategic investment rather than a short‑term experiment.