Author William Gibson once said, “The future is already here but it’s not evenly distributed.” It resonates in particular today as consumers see artificial intelligence (AI) spread like wildfire through every sector, including the entertainment industry. In August alone, Meta offered millions to stars like Awkwafina and Judi Dench to use their voices for AI-based products, and AI startup ProRata signed Universal Music Group and The Atlantic to licensing deals.
But how will AI’s ever-growing presence in the entertainment industry impact disability inclusion and representation? The trepidation towards it is high, especially as disabled audiences continue to see computer-generated imagery (CGI) used to make non-disabled actors appear disabled, like Hugh Grant in the recent “Wonka.”