How AI Is Used in the Entertainment Industry

AI is now used across the entertainment industry: in film and television production, music, gaming, publishing and streaming. Some uses are long-established, such as recommendation systems that suggest what to watch next. Others are newer and more controversial, like generative AI that writes scripts, creates images or imitates voices. This guide explains how AI is used in entertainment in 2026, the agreements and rules that now shape it, and how independent creators, including in Nollywood and the Nigerian music scene, can use AI tools responsibly.

Recommendations and streaming

Streaming platforms use machine learning to recommend films, series, songs and podcasts based on what you and similar users watch or listen to. AI also helps choose which artwork or trailer to show, predict demand and plan which content to license or produce. This is the most widespread and least visible use of AI in entertainment.

Film and television production

Pre-production

Writers and producers use AI for brainstorming, research and scheduling. Generated concept art and storyboards help teams visualise scenes before shooting. Our guide to writing a movie script with AI covers how screenwriters can use AI without giving up their voice.

Production and post-production

AI tools assist with visual effects, rotoscoping (separating actors from backgrounds), upscaling old footage, colour matching, noise removal and automatic transcription of footage for editors. Many of these speed up tedious technical tasks rather than replacing creative decisions.

Dubbing, subtitles and accessibility

Speech recognition creates draft subtitles and transcripts, while synthetic voices and lip-syncing tools are used for dubbing into other languages. These can bring content to new audiences, but voice and likeness use requires consent. The W3C's guidance on captions and subtitles explains why accurate captions matter for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.

Agreements with writers and performers

Generative AI was a central issue in the 2023 Hollywood strikes. The Writers Guild of America's resulting contract includes provisions on AI, summarised on the WGA's artificial intelligence page: for example, AI-generated material is not treated as literary material, and writers cannot be required to use AI. Performer unions negotiated consent and compensation rules for digital replicas. These agreements apply to their members and signatory companies, but they have influenced industry norms more widely.

Music

AI is used for mastering, stem separation (isolating vocals or instruments), beat and melody ideas, and generating backing tracks. AI voice cloning of real artists without permission has caused disputes, and streaming services have introduced policies on AI-generated tracks and impersonation. For musicians, the safest uses are as tools in their own creative process: generating ideas, cleaning up recordings or creating demos.

Gaming

Game studios have used AI for decades to control non-player characters. Newer uses include generating textures, environments and dialogue variations, testing games automatically and creating more responsive characters. Studios still rely on artists and designers to set style and quality.

Publishing and audio

Publishers use AI for translation drafts, metadata and marketing copy. Synthetic narration makes it cheaper to produce audio versions of books and articles, though many listeners still prefer human narrators for fiction. For creators, tools like Text to Speech can turn written content into audio quickly.

Copyright and ownership

Copyright is one of the biggest open questions. The US Copyright Office has said that works generated entirely by AI without sufficient human authorship are not protected by copyright, while human contributions, such as selection, arrangement and modification, can be. Lawsuits over whether training AI on copyrighted works is lawful are ongoing in several countries. Creators should keep records of their own input and check the terms of any AI tool they use.

How independent creators can use AI responsibly

• Visual development: create mood boards, poster concepts and storyboards with the AI Image Generator, and label AI-made visuals.
• Scripts and treatments: brainstorm loglines, outlines and dialogue alternatives with the AI Writer, then write the final draft yourself.
• Promotion: draft social posts, press releases and synopses.
• Accessibility: generate draft subtitles from audio and correct them.
• Never clone a real person's voice or likeness without explicit permission.

For more on labelling, see our guide to how to label AI-generated content.

Nollywood and Afrobeats

Nigeria's film and music industries are among the most productive in the world, often working with tight budgets. AI tools can help independent producers with subtitles for international distribution, storyboards, promotional graphics and social media campaigns. They also bring risks: unauthorised voice clones of popular artists and AI-generated content flooding platforms. Clear contracts about AI use, consent for voice and likeness, and honest labelling protect both creators and audiences.

Audiences increasingly care whether content is made by people, AI or both. Being open about your process builds trust and helps your work stand out.

Key takeaways

• Recommendations are the most widespread entertainment AI.
• Union agreements now set rules for AI in film and TV writing.
• Purely AI-generated works have limited copyright protection in the US.
• Never clone a voice or likeness without consent.

Related guides

Keep reading in this topic cluster:

• How to Use TextPixAI to Create Images and Articles
• AI Music and Copyright: What Creators Should Know
• Can AI Replace Human Artists? An Honest 2026 Look

Frequently asked questions

How is AI used in movies?

For pre-visualisation, visual effects, editing assistance, upscaling, subtitles, dubbing and marketing, with human creatives making the key decisions.

Can AI-generated music or art be copyrighted?

In the US, purely AI-generated works are generally not protected, but human creative contributions can be. Rules vary by country.

Will AI replace actors and writers?

Union agreements and audience preferences currently limit that. AI is mainly used as a tool, though it is changing some jobs.

Is it legal to use AI to copy a celebrity's voice?

Using someone's voice or likeness without permission can violate personality, publicity or consumer protection laws and platform rules. Always get consent.

Can I use AI to subtitle my film?

Yes. Speech to text can produce a draft transcript quickly, which you then correct, time and translate. Always review subtitles carefully, especially names, slang and local languages, before distribution.

How do streaming platforms decide what to recommend?

They use machine learning models that compare your viewing or listening history with patterns from many other users, along with information about the content itself, to predict what you are likely to enjoy next.