Google DeepMind is partnering with independent film studio A24 in a multiyear deal worth $75 million to develop new AI tools for movie production. The investment will support A24's Labs team in creating assistive technologies, starting with AI-generated storyboards. The tools will be available to A24 filmmakers and contribute to Google's broader AI ecosystem.
The partnership was announced on June 22. It marks the first time Google has invested directly in a Hollywood studio. The deal explicitly prohibits Google from training its AI models on A24's film and television library.
A24 Labs, led by Scott Belsky, will focus on applications that preserve creative control. Eli Collins, a vice president of product at DeepMind, said the goal is to put technology in the hands of top creative minds. Initial efforts center on storyboards rather than generative AI that replaces human work.
A24 has seen strong recent performance with films such as Backrooms and Marty Supreme. The studio is currently valued at $3.5 billion. Some directors associated with A24 have expressed concerns about AI's impact on the industry.
