How does Ellison compare AI to CGI?

He calls CGI and digital composites from the early 90s the closest parallel, and says it is 'hard to imagine' AI will not have a more significant impact.

Is Paramount Skydance building its own AI tools?

Yes. Ellison said the company has been developing its own AI tools and expects them to make content easier to produce and speed up projects.

Large Language ModelsAI Business & IndustryThe Verge AI3m agoNov 10, 2026, 10:00 JST

David Ellison: AI a bigger film unlock than CGI

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3 Key Points

What happened
On Paramount Skydance's earnings call, CEO David Ellison said AI could be the 'biggest creative unlock in modern history,' with a bigger film impact than CGI.
Why it matters
He said Paramount Skydance is building its own AI tools, which he expects to speed production and make budgets 'more digestible' — while saying AI 'will never be a replacement' for artists.

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Context & Analysis

Ellison's remarks came during an earnings call, in response to a question about Paramount Skydance's outlook for AI, which places the studio's strategy alongside its financial results rather than in a standalone announcement. His comparison to CGI is anchored in a cost argument: he said Terminator cost $4 million to make, but shot for shot today it would cost $60 to 70 million. That gap, in his framing, is where AI tools could let the studio take more risk on original storytelling by making budgets 'more digestible.'

At the same time, Ellison drew a line around what AI should not do. He said AI 'will never be a replacement' for artists and that 'in a world of AI slop' there will always be a premium for hand-crafted storytelling. He also argued that the tools make premium IP and live events more valuable, not less — a claim that positions AI as a complement to the studio's existing franchises rather than a substitute for them.

FAQ

How does Ellison compare AI to CGI?: He calls CGI and digital composites from the early 90s the closest parallel, and says it is 'hard to imagine' AI will not have a more significant impact.
What cost example did Ellison give?: He said Terminator cost $4 million to make, but shot for shot today it would cost $60 to 70 million.
Is Paramount Skydance building its own AI tools?: Yes. Ellison said the company has been developing its own AI tools and expects them to make content easier to produce and speed up projects.

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