As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, discussions around its use are no longer confined to tech circles, they’re happening across creative industries as well. While some may feel AI fatigue, its presence in filmmaking is not a distant concept; it is very much here, shaping the way content is made and experienced.
A recent example comes from the critically acclaimed 2025 film The Brutalist, which earned ten Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Beyond its cinematic achievements, the film sparked conversations about the ethical use of AI when editor Dávid Jancsó revealed that AI was employed to perfect Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones’ Hungarian dialogue. This application, while subtle, raised important questions about how far AI should be allowed to influence performance, and how its use aligns with professional standards in voiceover and AI.
Joe Lewis, our Head of Audio and no stranger to ethical AI voiceover practices, was invited to weigh in on the topic by The British Cinematographer. He highlights how, when used thoughtfully, AI can enhance rather than replace human performance. Noting that although the actor’s had language training, Hungarian is a particularly unique language and accent, it may not have been possible to perfect this within the time constraints of making a film and it would be a great shame for this to stand in the way of the brilliant leading performances; “Adrien Brody is both an excellent and idiosyncratic actor whose decades of knowledge and experience cannot currently be comprehensively mimicked or originated by AI in a timely and cost-effective manner. […] I really feel this is a brilliant use of AI technology to both improve productivity and quality which, in my opinion, is one of the most ethical and pragmatic ways of using AI.” At The Voiceover Gallery, we believe that AI voice ethics can be applied in real creative contexts, to show how technology can complement human artistry.
To explore the full discussion on AI and ethical voiceover in filmmaking, read The British Cinematographer’s full article on Filmmaking’s future by Robert Shepherd, here: https://britishcinematographer.co.uk/ai/
