Tyler Perry halts $800m studio expansion after being shocked by AI

Tyler Perry has put an $800m (£630m) expansion of his Atlanta studio complex on hold following the debut of OpenAI’s video generator, Sora, and cautioned about the potential loss of jobs in the film industry due to artificial intelligence.

The American film and TV mogul revealed that he had been in the midst of adding 12 sound stages to his studio but has indefinitely halted those plans 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 said 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.”

OpenAI on X: "Introducing Sora, our text-to-video model. Sora can create videos of up to 60 seconds featuring highly detailed scenes, complex camera motion, and multiple characters with vibrant emotions. https://t.co/7j2JN27M3W Prompt: “Beautiful, snowy… https://t.co/ruTEWn87vf" / X (twitter.com)

Sora, an AI tool launched on February 15, has garnered attention for its ability to generate realistic footage based on simple text prompts, causing widespread astonishment.

Perry, known for his Madea film series, remarked that Sora's advancements mean he could now create without the need for physical sets or travel. “I can sit in an office and do this with a computer, which is shocking to me.”

OpenAI's demonstrations depict photorealistic scenes in response to text prompts, showcasing the AI's capabilities. Perry expressed concern that Sora's breakthroughs could impact various jobs in the film industry, including those of actors, editors, sound specialists, and transportation crews.

“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 emphasized.

He cited an immediate example of the impact: construction workers and contractors who would no longer be needed for his planned studio expansion. Perry also disclosed his recent use of AI in two films to digitally age his face, reducing time spent in the makeup chair.

Worries over AI's impact on jobs were highlighted in recent strikes by Hollywood actors and writers, leading to agreements that include provisions regarding the use of technology.

Perry stressed the importance of a collective effort across the industry to address these challenges. “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,” he concluded.