Google DeepMind and A24 are joining forces in a first-of-its-kind research partnership aimed at building artificial intelligence tools for filmmakers, with Google also making an investment in the independent studio.
TL;DR
- Google DeepMind and A24 will collaborate on AI research and development for filmmaking workflows.
- Google has invested in A24, reportedly around $75 million.
- The partnership is not a data-training or IP licensing deal.
- A24 filmmakers are expected to retain creative control.
Google DeepMind and independent film studio A24 have announced a research partnership that will focus on developing new workflows, techniques, and tools for artists working in film and entertainment.
The partnership will span multiple projects over time and aims to place Google DeepMind’s AI research directly inside the creative process, rather than building tools in isolation and pushing them toward studios later. Google said the collaboration is designed to ensure “the tools of the future are shaped by the creators who use them.”
As part of the deal, Google has also made an investment in A24. The company did not publicly disclose the amount, but the Wall Street Journal reported that Google is investing around $75 million in the studio, marking Google’s first equity stake in a film studio. Reuters also cited the report, adding that DeepMind did not comment on the investment’s value.
A24 is known for films and shows including Backrooms, Marty Supreme, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Moonlight, Hereditary, Uncut Gems, Euphoria, and Beef. The studio has built a strong reputation among younger audiences and creators for backing original, filmmaker-led projects.
The timing is notable, as Hollywood’s relationship with AI remains tense. Studios, writers, actors, and filmmakers have raised concerns around copyright, consent, job displacement, and the use of creative works for training AI models. That makes the structure of this deal important.
According to Reuters, a source familiar with the matter said filmmakers will retain full creative control and that the arrangement is not an intellectual property or data-training deal. The same source said A24 will gain access to DeepMind’s research, infrastructure, and global reach.
Demis Hassabis, Google DeepMind co-founder and CEO, said the best way to build tools for artists is to work directly with them, adding that collaboration with filmmakers and A24 can help create AI features that support “authentic, meaningful storytelling.”
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Scott Belsky, an A24 partner who oversees technology and innovation work, also positioned the effort away from prompt-based generation. He told the Wall Street Journal that the tools “won’t look anything like the prompted generation type of AI” many creators find uncomfortable, adding that there are better uses that preserve creative control and support risk-taking.
For now, Google and A24 have not named specific products, films, release dates, or technical milestones. Google said the initial focus is on bridging cutting-edge technology with next-generation entertainment, while the specific goals and outputs will evolve over time.
The bigger takeaway is that Google DeepMind is not just chasing Hollywood as a customer. It is embedding itself with a filmmaker-first studio to test how AI can be shaped by creative teams before it becomes a mainstream production tool.
