Paramount Skydance CEO Ellison says AI may matter more to film than CGI did
On Paramount Skydance's latest earnings call, CEO David Ellison said AI will likely affect film more than CGI did, and that it will reshape the company's business. He also said AI will never replace artists.
Studio leaders are now publicly tying AI to budgets and production speed. Creators and teams that work with studios should expect AI tools to become part of how projects get planned and funded, while hand-made work stays a selling point.
What happened
Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison talked about AI and film on the company's latest earnings call, according to The Verge. Asked about the company's AI outlook, he compared the technology to CGI and digital composites, which spread in the early 1990s.
Ellison said those earlier tools helped make films such as Jurassic Park and Terminator 2. He said he finds it hard to imagine AI will have a smaller effect than that.
These are statements from an executive on an earnings call. The source does not show results from any AI tool at the company.
Key details
- Ellison said AI will "significantly" reshape Paramount Skydance's business, as reported by The Verge.
- He said the company is building its own AI tools. He claims this will make content easier to make, speed up projects across the organization and change how staff work.
- He used Terminator as a cost example. By his account, the film cost $4 million to make, and a shot-for-shot remake today would cost $60 to 70 million.
- He said AI tools could support more original storytelling by making budgets easier to manage, so studios can take bigger creative risks.
- He argued that AI makes premium IP and live events more valuable, not less.
- He said that amid low-quality AI output, there will always be a premium for truly hand-crafted storytelling.
- He described AI as a tool for artists, not a replacement for them.
Why it matters
Ellison's argument is about cost. If tools lower production budgets, studios may be more willing to back original projects. That is a prediction from a CEO, not a result. The source gives no figures on how much AI has saved or will save.
The comments also show a split message that many media companies use. They promote AI for speed and efficiency, while saying human craft still carries value. For independent creators, teachers and solo developers, the point is that studios see AI as a production tool first, and that skilled human work is still being positioned as a premium product.
The Verge lists the story under its fall 2026 earnings coverage.
FAQ
What did David Ellison say about AI and CGI?
He said it is hard to imagine AI having less impact on film than CGI did. He pointed to CGI and digital composites in the early 1990s as the last comparable shift.
Does Paramount Skydance plan to replace artists with AI?
No, according to Ellison. He said AI is a tool for artists and will never be a replacement for them.
How much did Ellison say Terminator would cost today?
He said the original cost $4 million to make. He said a shot-for-shot remake today would cost $60 to 70 million, and suggested AI tools could help with that gap.
Primary sources
Checked claims
| Claim | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Ellison said on the earnings call that it is hard to imagine AI having a smaller impact on film than CGI. | confirmed | CEO David Ellison said “it’s hard to imagine” AI won’t have a bigger impact on the film industry than CGI |
| Ellison said AI will significantly reshape Paramount Skydance's business. | confirmed | Ellison said AI will “significantly” reshape Paramount Skydance’s business |
| Ellison said Terminator cost $4 million to make and would cost $60 to 70 million to remake shot for shot today. | confirmed | describing how it cost $4 million to make, but “if you wanted to make that picture today, shot for shot, it’s $60 to 70 million.” |
| Ellison said AI tools could support more original storytelling by making budgets more manageable. | confirmed | We think these tools will help unlock more original storytelling by being able to make the budgets more digestible to be able to take that amount of risk. |
| Ellison said AI is a tool for artists and will not replace them. | confirmed | We also continue to believe that artificial intelligence is a tool for artists and will never be a replacement for them. |
| Ellison said hand-crafted storytelling will keep a premium despite low-quality AI content. | confirmed | in a world of AI slop, we think there will always be a premium for truly hand-crafted storytelling. |
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