Amazon MGM Studios has launched an internal division called AI Studio, led by Vice President Albert Cheng, to build proprietary AI tools for film and TV production, according to Reuters. The unit operates under a "two pizza team" philosophy with a small group of product engineers and scientists, and plans to open a closed beta to select industry partners in March 2026.
The tools target "the last mile" between consumer AI and professional filmmaking. Cheng described the gap between what existing AI tools can produce and the granular control directors need for cinematic content. Capabilities include improving character consistency across shots, integrating with industry-standard creative tools, and giving directors finer control over AI-generated elements.
Three notable collaborators are testing early versions. Robert Stromberg (director of "Maleficent") and his company Secret City, Kunal Nayyar ("The Big Bang Theory") and Good Karma Productions, and former Pixar/ILM animator Colin Brady.
"House of David" Season 2 serves as proof of concept. Director Jon Erwin used a stack of over 15 AI tools (including Midjourney, Runway, Kling, Magnific, and Topaz) combined with traditional VFX to create 350+ AI-generated shots, up from 73 in Season 1. Scenes included 100,000 warriors charging into battle. We covered the production workflow in a previous edition.
Amazon frames this as expanding creative risk, not replacing workers. Cheng stated that "AI can accelerate, but it won't replace, the innovation and the unique aspects that [humans] bring." However, Amazon has cut roughly 30,000 corporate employees since October 2025, with CEO Andy Jassy citing AI-driven efficiencies.
Amazon expects to share initial results from the beta in May 2026.
