99th Academy Awards Announces New Rules Excluding Generative AI: A Victory for Labor and the Future of the Film Industry

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has codified 'human-only' requirements for the world's most prestigious awards ceremony to safeguard human creativity. The new rules for the 99th Academy Awards, announced on May 1, 2026, explicitly exclude AI-generated acting and screenplays from eligibility. This marks a significant victory for labor advocates and traditionalists in an industry currently disrupted by generative technologies.

This move is a powerful declaration by the Academy as technological advancements encroach upon artistic domains. The rules, which will take effect starting with the ceremony to be held in 2027, aim to reaffirm the role of humans in the filmmaking process and clearly define the boundary between technological tools and creative agency.

The Academy's decision is interpreted as more than just technical resistance; it is an attempt to preserve the human essence of the cinematic medium. Especially as generative AI moves beyond screenwriting and visual effects into the realm of acting, the Academy has prioritized the value of human actors through the criterion of 'demonstrable performance.'

On Friday, May 1, 2026, the Academy's Board of Governors released a package of rules for the 99th Oscars, formalizing its stance on AI. A key technical requirement in the acting categories is that the role must be 'demonstrably performed by humans.' This is seen as an intent to fundamentally block digitally generated virtual performers from replacing human actors.

"We are fighting for the survival of our profession." — This phrase, emphasized by the actors' union during the 2023 strike, has now become official Academy policy.

The definition of acting in the digital age has also been specified. The Academy addressed the issue of 'synthetic performers' and the use of digital likeness rights, making human consent a mandatory prerequisite for all eligibility. This appears to be a direct response to various controversies within the industry, such as recent attempts to recreate Val Kilmer's voice and appearance using AI.

Copyright Standards for Screenwriting and Investigative Authority

Strict 'human-authored' requirements have also been introduced in the Original and Adapted Screenplay categories. The Academy clearly distinguishes between the use of AI assistive tools and AI-generated content, specifying that only screenplays written by human writers are eligible for awards. This emphasizes that the source of creation must reside in human intellectual activity rather than a machine.

• The Academy has established a new enforcement mechanism to monitor the extent of AI use in submitted works.
• It reserves the right to request detailed information on how AI was utilized during the production process.
• Transparency disclosure obligations regarding AI use will be strengthened during the nomination process.

These regulatory changes are an extension of the historic strikes led by SAG-AFTRA and the WGA in 2023. At that time, labor groups strongly protested against AI replacing human jobs and undermining the value of creative works. The Academy's decision serves to back the protections won through those strikes with the authority of the awards ceremony.

Through this rule revision, the Academy has taken on the role of providing ethical guidelines for the industry beyond being a mere awarding body. It has officially adopted policies reflecting concerns that the indiscriminate introduction of AI technology could destroy the creative ecosystem. This is expected to significantly influence the rule-making of other international film festivals and awards ceremonies in the future.

In addition to AI-related regulations, the Academy attempted significant changes in the acting and international film categories. Actors can now be nominated for two acting awards in the same ceremony for two different works, and the pathways for entry into the International Feature Film category have been expanded. These changes, along with the AI ban, are expected to be key elements that filmmakers must consider as they prepare for the 2027 Oscar season.

The Oscars' Choice Emerging as a Global Standard

This announcement sends a powerful message to the global film industry beyond Hollywood. As major ceremonies like the Cannes Film Festival and BAFTA review AI-related regulations, the Oscars has set a global standard by preemptively establishing 'human-centric' principles. Independent filmmakers are also in a position where they must re-evaluate the scope of AI utilization for the 2027 awards.

In conclusion, the new regulations for the 99th Academy Awards provide a clear answer on how technology and art should coexist. It makes it clear that while AI can be a tool to assist creation, the honors for the resulting work belong solely to humans. The 2027 ceremony will be the first litmus test to see how these principles are applied in actual film selection.