The Oscars 2026: From witty jokes, nominated films, and AI
At the 2026 Oscars, the topic of artificial intelligence ranged from on-stage jokes to broader discussions about its place in filmmaking.
The 2026 Oscars were filled with discussions about artificial intelligence (AI). From on-stage jokes to the nomination of a previously controversial film that used the technology, which is now becoming a regular feature in all productions. As AI solutions increasingly enter the film industry, there is no shortage of changes, discussions, and questions about how this technology will change filmmaking, the work of actors, and the very concept of creativity.
AI Hints at the Oscars opening ceremony
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony brought together the most prominent representatives of the film industry in Hollywood on March 15, honoring the best films and filmmakers of 2025 in 24 categories. The ceremony was hosted for the second year in a row by comedian and TV host Conan O’Brien, who, in his opening monologue, did not shy away from allusions to the impact of AI on the entertainment industry.
Humorously, he joked about rapidly developing technology and even called himself “the last human to host the Oscars,” hinting that AI could take over this role in the future.
Conan O’Brien’s opening monologue:
The ceremony also began with a humorous video clip in which Conan O’Brien was “inserted” into scenes from several nominated films. This parodied modern film technology and its possibilities, while also reminding us that AI is becoming an increasingly important topic in the film industry today.
The changing rules of the Oscars
The Brutalist, which was mentioned as a possible Oscar contender for the 2025 ceremony but was also controversial for its technological solutions, has sparked debate about the role of AI in the film industry. Earlier last year, the film’s editor, David Jancso, revealed in an interview that the AI tool Respeecher was used to improve the Hungarian accents of Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. The technology helped correct complex pronunciation sounds so that dialogue would sound more natural to native speakers.
The growing debate has forced the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to clarify its position on the use of AI in films ahead of this year’s official ceremony. The guidelines, released in April last year, state that the use of AI in itself neither increases nor decreases a film’s chances of being nominated for an Oscar. However, they stressed that human creative input remains the most important criterion.
Although this year there were no such heated discussions as last year, the topic of AI has not disappeared from the film industry. On the contrary, more and more specialists are noticing that AI tools are gradually becoming a regular part of the filmmaking process.
Among the 2026 Oscar winners, the film Sinners stands out with the most nominations, with 16. Here, advanced visual effects solutions helped create scenes in which Michael B. Jordan plays twins – such effects often use machine learning-based tools for facial alignment and frame correction.
The most important nominations have been shared
The star of the 2026 Oscars was the film “One Battle After Another,” which won six awards, including the most important one, Best Picture. The film’s director, Paul T. Anderson, was also named Best Director.
At the time, one of the most nominated films was Sinners, which won four awards. One of the most important was Michael B. Jordan, who was named best actor for his leading role in the film.
Jessie Buckley won the Best Actress award for her role in Hamnet.
So, the topic of AI is becoming an integral part of the recent Oscars, but so far it seems that there are loud discussions taking place. Meanwhile, the real impact on the industry is still unfolding behind the scenes.
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