The independent film studio A24 is pushing back against criticism of its new partnership with Google involving artificial intelligence, according to Screen Daily.
The trade outlet reports that the deal drew backlash, an unsurprising reaction given how charged the subject of AI has become across the entertainment industry. Studios, writers, actors and crews have all been weighing what generative tools mean for jobs, creative control and the future of how films get made.
In response to the criticism, A24 framed its decision as a matter of influence rather than endorsement. As Screen Daily's headline quotes the company, A24 said it would "rather have a seat at the table" — a defense that casts engagement with a major technology partner as a way to shape how these tools are used, instead of standing outside the process.
The argument is a familiar one in debates over fast-moving technology: participate early and help set the terms, or refuse to engage and risk having those terms set by others. For a studio like A24, which has built its brand on distinctive, filmmaker-driven work, aligning with a tech giant on AI is a notably sensitive move, which helps explain why the announcement landed with friction.
The available reporting does not detail the specific scope of the partnership or the precise nature of the objections beyond the broader backlash A24 is responding to.
Why it matters: A24 is one of the most influential names in independent film, so how it justifies working with Google on AI offers an early signal of how respected creative companies will navigate the collision between artistic credibility and the spread of artificial intelligence.