As Hollywood accelerates film production using AI, moviegoers are also showing signs of checking whether AI was used in a work.

Tech outlet TechRadar reported on Wednesday that DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg (제프리 캐천버그) recently unveiled plans to launch an animation studio that uses AI technology. Katzenberg said he had regarded AI-generated output as “slop” until a few months ago, but that the technology level had changed significantly. He said he plans to produce film and TV content using AI. Lower production costs could make more works and new forms of storytelling possible, he added.

Money is also flowing into AI film production. The 3-minute trailer “The Gifted,” made using AI, won the Future Vision XPRIZE and secured $2.5 million, about 3.39 billion won, in investment to produce a feature film. It also received $100,000, about 135.56 million won, in script development funding.

Interest among audiences in whether AI was used is also growing. Film planning platform Filmustage’s analysis of Google Trends showed that over the past month search interest in “movies with no AI” rose 345 percent, while “movies made with AI” increased 112 percent. Still, it is not possible to conclude support or opposition to AI films from the increase in searches alone.

Actors are also emphasizing the value of human creation. Tom Cruise said at a recent BAFTA event in London that it would be difficult to avoid the trend of AI entering the film industry. He added that there is nothing like humans and that audiences want real human experiences.

AI production companies view the technology as a production tool, not a substitute for actors. Kevin Chong (케빈 총), chief operating officer at Utopai Studios, said it does not aim in a direction that replaces human actors. Acting and key creative decisions must still come from people, he stressed.