Artificial intelligence made significant waves in pop culture throughout 2025, reshaping music, film, and social media. Notable developments included AI-generated artists topping charts, the resurrection of deceased celebrities in digital formats, and a heated debate over the ethics of these innovations.
Oscar Controversy Highlights AI’s Role in Film
In January, the makers of the 2024 film “The Brutalist” disclosed their collaboration with a software company to enhance the Hungarian accents of lead actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. The film, which tells the story of a Hungarian-Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust, became a favorite during awards season. As it garnered a nomination for Best Picture, the revelation regarding AI usage sparked discussions that became a focal point leading up to the Oscars. Although the film lost to “Anora,” Brody won the Best Actor award.
In April, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences clarified its stance on AI, stating that such technologies “neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination.” Commenting on the uproar, Holly Willis, a professor at the University of Southern California, likened the enhancements to standard post-production techniques, emphasizing that cinema has always involved various forms of augmentation.
AI Musicians and the Evolving Music Landscape
The summer of 2025 witnessed the rise of a band named Velvet Sundown, which achieved over 1 million plays on Spotify within weeks. However, it was later revealed that the band was not a traditional musical group but rather a “synthetic music project” powered by AI technology. This disclosure raised questions about authenticity in the music industry and whether streaming platforms should disclose the nature of their artists.
By November, the AI-generated song “Walk My Walk” from a project named Breaking Rust topped the Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales Chart. Additionally, an AI musician named Solomon Ray dominated the iTunes Top 100 Christian and Gospel Albums chart. Traditional producers like Timbaland also entered the AI space, introducing an AI pop singer named TaTa Taktumi, calling it “artist development, reengineered.”
Modern Takes on Timeless Classics
The debate over whether classic films should remain untouched or be modernized continued with the August launch of a new version of “The Wizard of Oz” at Sphere in Las Vegas. Sphere Entertainment Co. invested approximately $80 million to adapt the 1939 musical, collaborating with Google to create an immersive experience. Changes included expanded visuals and audible voices previously only implied in the original.
Dominic Lees, an associate professor at the University of Reading, noted that the adaptation serves as a modern reinterpretation of the classic film, showcasing how AI can enhance storytelling.
Podcasting and Voice Cloning
AI technology also transformed the podcasting landscape, allowing hosts to create “host replicas” that can augment or even replace in-studio performances. Reggie Ugwu from The New York Times reported that while some leading podcasters experimented with this technology, many chose to abandon it due to trust concerns. Nate DiMeo, host of “Memory Palace,” expressed that using AI undermines the essence of podcasting, which relies on genuine human connection.
Ethical Concerns Over Digital Resurrection
The emergence of AI-generated videos featuring deceased celebrities sparked ethical discussions. In September, OpenAI launched the Sora 2 AI Video Generator, which generated deepfakes of celebrities like Tupac Shakur and Bob Ross. Zelda Williams, the daughter of actor Robin Williams, publicly criticized the trend, equating it to exploiting the legacies of these artists for superficial engagement.
The introduction of Tilly Norwood, a realistic AI-generated actress, in September further fueled concerns about job displacement in Hollywood. Her creator, Eline Van der Velden, claimed that Norwood was designed not to replace human actors but to provide new storytelling avenues. However, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists emphasized that the character was generated without permission or compensation from the original performers.
Distinguished Filmmakers Voice Their Opinions
Prominent directors expressed their disapproval of AI in filmmaking towards the year’s end. Guillermo del Toro, known for his award-winning films, stated he has no interest in utilizing generative AI. Meanwhile, James Cameron, director of the “Avatar” series, confirmed that AI was not employed in his recent projects, highlighting the importance of honoring human actors.
Disney’s Landmark AI Partnership
In December, Disney announced a substantial $1 billion investment in OpenAI, allowing its iconic characters to feature on Sora, OpenAI’s short-form video platform. This marked the first major alignment between a Hollywood studio and an AI company. The deal follows a lawsuit by Disney and Universal against Midjourney in June, accusing the AI image generator of infringing on their intellectual property by using their characters without permission.
This partnership will enable users to create videos featuring beloved characters from franchises like “Toy Story,” “Frozen,” and Marvel properties, showcasing how AI continues to redefine the boundaries of creativity in the entertainment industry.
The developments of 2025 illustrate the profound impact of artificial intelligence on pop culture, raising questions about authenticity, ethics, and the future of creative expression.
