Russo Brothers’ Studio Taps Former Apple Executive to Lead AI Initiative

Every part In all places All At As soon as movie producer AGBO Studios has employed AI veteran Dominic Hughes as its newly created chief scientific officer, the manufacturing firm mentioned on Thursday.

Hughes will now work with AGBO’s in-house groups to develop its AI capabilities to “enrich the artistic course of,” the corporate mentioned.

AGBO was based by Anthony and Joe Russo, the brothers who directed a few of the highest-grossing movies in Hollywood’s historical past and are thought-about legends within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly for Avengers: Infinity Struggle and Avengers: Endgame.

“At AGBO, we’re relentlessly centered on a creative-led method to know-how and innovation,” the Russo Brothers mentioned in a statement. “Working in tandem with our writers, administrators, crew members, and technologists, Dr. Hughes will assist us think about new methods to empower artists to inform their boldest and most formidable tales.”

Earlier than becoming a member of AGBO, Hughes, who holds a Ph.D. from Oxford and is an skilled in algorithms, machine studying, and AI, led Apple Information after Swell, an audio information app he co-founded, was acquired by the know-how big in 2014.

“That is an thrilling time to companion with artistic visionaries to develop the following era of filmmaking know-how,” Hughes mentioned. “AGBO’s long-standing method of adopting and adapting technologically superior filmmaking strategies positions them effectively for this period of discovery.”

Hughes’ appointment comes amid rising business debate over AI’s role in Hollywood.

Writers Guild of America (WGA) union members, as an illustration, view Hollywood’s embrace of AI with warning following a 2023 strike the place the know-how—which some concern may change writers sooner or later—performed a central position.

“There’s clear language within the contract to maintain some of these items from occurring,” WGA member and screenwriter Jamarcus Turner instructed Decrypt. “However there may be nothing prohibiting the finding out of those applied sciences.”

Turner, who beforehand wrote for CBS’s “Bob Hearts Abishola” and served as a captain through the strikes, believes studios are getting ready for the following time negotiations between the Writers’ Union and Hollywood studios come.

“If I needed to guess, all of the studios will proceed their analysis till the following contract,” he mentioned. “They’re setting the desk to be on the forefront of this beautiful ugly observe as soon as it’s allowed sooner or later.”

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair