Ghanaian filmmaker Selassie Ibrahim has raised concerns about the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in filmmaking, warning that the technology could threaten the livelihoods of many industry professionals who lack the skills to adapt.
Speaking to Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, she acknowledged the opportunities technology presents but cautioned that the increasing adoption of AI could leave some creative professionals struggling to remain relevant in the industry.
She expressed particular concern that not everyone has the technical knowledge required to work with AI tools, potentially putting those unable to adapt at a disadvantage.
“For me it’s very alarming. It’s very worrying because it might throw a lot of people out of business. It’s not everybody who is technologically inclined to use AI. So if you don’t have what it takes to use AI it means you are gonna be out of business, which is very worrying,” she said.
Although concerned about the potential job losses, Selassie urged industry professionals to improve their skills and embrace the changing technological landscape to remain competitive.
She noted that audiences would continue to seek out creative content, making it important for filmmakers to raise the quality of their productions and adapt to changing industry demands.
REFFA Not Ready to Accept AI-Generated Films
The founder of the Regal Film Festival and Awards (REFFA) also indicated that the festival would not accept AI-generated films for now, arguing that existing AI platforms had yet to demonstrate the ability to produce content that adequately captures African stories.
Asked whether AI-generated productions would be considered for the festival, she said the technology still had significant limitations, particularly in synchronising dialogue with characters’ lip movements and maintaining visual consistency.
“No. Not yet. We will get there. I don’t think AI platforms have enough to fill the space of African content yet. When you watch their lip, it doesn’t coordinate with the dialogue. And then the movement, you see someone, the same person standing here, the same person moving, by the time you release he’s gone to the left. No. Not yet,” she explained.
She, however, expressed optimism that the technology could improve over time as developers and industry professionals gained more knowledge and understanding of its capabilities and limitations.
Her comments come amid growing discussions in Ghana’s creative industry about the implications of artificial intelligence for filmmaking, music production and other creative activities.
While some industry players see AI as an opportunity to improve production processes and expand creative possibilities, others have raised concerns about potential job losses, copyright protection, ownership of creative works and the displacement of human talent.
The debate is also gaining attention internationally, with AI-generated and AI-assisted productions prompting discussions about eligibility and recognition at major film awards, including the Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars.
In the music industry, the use of AI-generated songs and cloned voices has similarly raised questions about artists’ rights, intellectual property and the need for safeguards as the technology continues to evolve.
