The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has updated its eligibility rules to bar AI-generated actors and screenplays from competing for Oscars, starting with the 99th Academy Awards in March 2027.
The move places human creativity at the centre of all major award categories, tightening how films are assessed as artificial intelligence becomes more common in filmmaking.
Under the new rules, only performances that are “demonstrably performed by humans with their consent” will qualify for acting nominations.
This effectively excludes fully digital or AI-generated performers from categories such as Best Actor and Best Actress.
The Academy says the change is meant to preserve acting as a recognition of human emotional performance, not synthetic or computer-generated portrayals.
The writing categories have also been tightened. To qualify for Original or Adapted Screenplay awards, scripts must now be human-authored.
AI-generated or AI-dominant scripts will not be eligible, even if they are polished or refined by human writers later in the process.
The Academy says the rule is intended to ensure that storytelling remains rooted in human authorship and creative intent.
To enforce the changes, filmmakers may now be required to submit an Affidavit of Human Origin, confirming that eligible work is primarily created by humans.
The Academy has also reserved the right to request additional production details where AI use is unclear or significant.
Despite the restrictions, AI has not been fully banned from filmmaking.
The Academy says AI tools can still be used in production areas such as visual effects, editing, sound design and pre-production planning
However, it stressed that AI must remain a support tool, not the primary creative force behind award-eligible work.
The Academy also introduced a case-by-case approach for digital performances, including AI-assisted recreations of actors.
In such situations, eligibility will depend on how much of the final performance is human-driven versus machine-generated.
Alongside the AI restrictions, the Academy introduced several additional changes:
- Actors can now receive multiple nominations in the same category in one year for different roles
- International films can qualify through major festival wins such as Cannes or Sundance, even without national submission
- The Best Casting category has been expanded from two to three statuettes
The changes come as Hollywood continues to debate the role of artificial intelligence in film production, particularly in acting and writing.
