Google DeepMind has committed $75 million to a research partnership with A24, the indie studio behind "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "Backrooms," to build AI tools specifically designed for artists. The collaboration was announced Monday, with the investment reported by The Wall Street Journal.
A24, known for its Oscar-winning "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and the blockbuster "Backrooms," counts Timothée Chalamet and Anne Hathaway among its stars. The studio now becomes a testing ground for AI-driven filmmaking technology.
Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, said: "We believe the best way to build tools that truly empower artists is to work directly with them. Partnering with filmmakers and industry leaders from the start allows us to develop AI capabilities that genuinely support their creative vision, making stories more authentic and meaningful."
Netflix, Amazon Join the Fray: Hollywood AI Arms Race Heats Up
This is not Hollywood's first encounter with AI, but the scale is different. Netflix earlier this year acquired InterPositive, an AI film tools company founded by Ben Affleck. Amazon's MGM Studios set up a dedicated AI tools unit last year. Yet the DeepMind-A24 pact, with its $75 million direct investment and involvement of top DeepMind researchers, marks the most ambitious alliance between a major AI lab and a Hollywood studio to date.
Industry observers say the key takeaway is that AI giants are moving beyond general-purpose models into vertical applications. A24's distinct auteur-driven approach suggests DeepMind is not aiming to replace traditional film production but to explore how AI can add value in independent, low-budget, and artistic filmmaking.
DeepMind's Talent Drain and Differentiation Move
DeepMind has faced a steady exodus of top talent — Nobel laureate John Jumper left for Anthropic, and Gemini co-lead Noam Shazeer joined OpenAI. The Hollywood venture is seen as a bid to find new applications for AI research and to bolster brand clout. While OpenAI and Anthropic focus on text and code, DeepMind's push into visual storytelling is a strategic differentiation.
On the long-running debate over AI replacing industry workers, Hassabis stressed the collaboration is "designed to empower, not replace." Still, with Netflix, Amazon, and Google all pouring money into AI film tools, the fight over labor rights and creative ethics in Hollywood is only intensifying. Will A24's next "Backrooms"-scale hit come from an AI-assisted set? The industry is watching closely.