Public support for French cinema will change to protect creation in the face of AI

A change in funding rules to protect cinema and audiovisual artists from the use of AI. This was announced on Saturday May 16 by the Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard during a meeting with stakeholders from the world of French cinema on the sidelines of the Cannes festival, while the question of AI is shaking the cinema sector throughout the world.

“Creation is not reuse, it is an act of innovation (..)“a déclaré Mme Pégard. “Artificial intelligence is a tool. It can accelerate, facilitate and enrich the production of films. But a work is a look, it’s an intention, it’s feelings” continued the minister, “this is why the CNC will very soon modify the rules relating to this aid, to guarantee respect for a simple principle, helping human creation.”

The National Center for Cinema and Animated Images (CNC), with a budget of more than 800 million euros per year, plays a crucial role in financing the 7th art and the entire audiovisual sector. He “will not help tomorrow a work which does not have an author“, affirmed the minister, adding that for dubbing, “only human interpretation can be supported“.

It is not, however, a question of “inprohibit the use of artificial intelligence in works“said the minister, but not to help”works where AI would replace the creator, instead of providing him with additional tools. Respect for human creation applies to the sharing of value as well as to the protection of employment“, concluded the Minister of Culture. She must meet her European counterparts in Cannes to address the subject of the protection of works.