In a candid No Film School interview, Janice Min, CEO of The Ankler and longtime Hollywood insider, revealed that the entertainment industry’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) is far more widespread than studios admit publicly. Min said that while Hollywood executives often downplay or deny how much generative AI is being used behind the scenes, insiders acknowledge it is embedded deeply in creative workflows — from script drafting to production discussions — even if public statements avoid the topic.
Min highlighted a kind of “don’t ask, don’t tell” culture around AI in Hollywood, where companies officially claim limited adoption while privately relying on tools such as ChatGPT and Claude to assist writers and creatives. She joked that it would be hard to find a screenwriter staring at a blank page without simultaneously opening an AI assistant to help generate ideas or text, underscoring how common the technology has become in everyday creative work.
The article also noted that this secrecy isn’t just a matter of embarrassment but reflects industry tensions over AI’s impact on jobs and craftsmanship. Visual effects (VFX) professionals, for example, are already feeling the repercussions as AI tools automate parts of their work, leading to layoffs and financial hardship for many in the trade. Min cited personal anecdotes from her network about VFX workers struggling because traditional demand for their skills has declined as studios lean on AI.
Finally, Min observed that major films — including many Best Picture contenders — have almost certainly incorporated AI in their development or production, despite little public acknowledgment of those tools’ roles. This combination of ubiquitous use and public silence illustrates an emerging fault line in Hollywood’s AI transition: the industry is using impactful new technologies while struggling to reconcile them with its public image and concerns about authenticity, artistry, and job displacement.
