Meta and Google are offering Hollywood studios millions of dollars in hopes of securing licensing deals to enhance their AI-generated video models, according to a new report. The companies have reportedly proposed “tens of millions of dollars,” though the outcome of these discussions remains uncertain.
According to a report by Bloomberg (via Engadget), Netflix and Disney “aren’t willing to license their content” but have “expressed interest in other types of collaborations.”
Warner Brothers Discovery, on the other hand, has reportedly indicated “a willingness to license some of its programs.”
Also read: Google VideoFX, an AI tool that turns ideas into videos: All you need to know
Meta and Google appear to be aiming for these deals to advance their video generation tools. Google recently showcased a text-to-video model and Meta is also conducting research in AI-generated video.
Also read: Google introduces Gems, personalised versions of Gemini: All you need to know
There has been something of an arms race among AI firms to secure licensing deals with media companies. Earlier this week, OpenAI and NewsCorp announced a multi-year deal to bring news content to ChatGPT. Meta is also reportedly considering paying publishers to access “news, photo, and video content” to train its AI models.
But, as Bloomberg highlights, Hollywood studios may have some reservations about such agreements. Despite the allure of AI-editing tools, there is widespread concern in the entertainment industry about how AI companies might leverage their creative work.
This tension came to the forefront recently when Scarlett Johansson accused OpenAI of replicating her voice for its “Sky” assistant in ChatGPT after she declined to partner with the company.
In my opinion, these licensing negotiations highlight the growing importance of AI in content creation, underscoring both the potential and the challenges of integrating AI with traditional media. The success of such deals could significantly impact the future landscape of entertainment, blending cutting-edge technology with established creative industries.
