Actor Kim SungCheol recently expressed his concerns about the advancements in AI technology and the resulting changes in the entertainment industry. He worried, “If AI replaces actors, how will I make a living?” The impact of AI on the entertainment industry is already becoming visible. With AI producers emerging and AI music shows meeting the public, there are questions about whether human entertainers can survive the competition with AI stars.
AI technology is no stranger to the entertainment industry. MBC’s ‘The Producer is Gone!’ depicted the process of an AI producer directing a show, while TV Chosun’s ‘Ava Dream’ used AI to restore the voices of deceased stars. As technology develops, AI is infiltrating even the artistic fields that were once thought irreplaceable by artists. The younger generation is particularly becoming familiar with virtual idol group PLAVE. In this context, how will the future of the entertainment industry change?
Professor Ko ByungJeong from Jungwon University’s Department of Theater and Film stated, “It is difficult for AI to completely replace the intrinsic value of entertainers.” He explained, “The most essential value of entertainers lies in their genuine emotional connection with the public,” adding that no matter how sophisticatedly AI is programmed, there are inevitable limitations in creating such emotional exchanges. He also emphasized that AI finds it difficult to replace human entertainers in terms of spontaneity and creativity.
However, the use of AI is expected to increase gradually. The utilization of AI is likely to rise in areas such as commercial shooting, dubbing work, and CG stand-ins, which will bring changes to the industry’s structure, like cost reduction. The ability to collaborate with AI will emerge as a new competitive edge, and accordingly, entertainers will need to develop new skills that suit the AI era.
Agency representatives and pop culture critics also agree that while it is difficult for AI to completely replace human entertainers, various changes within the industry are expected due to the growth of AI. From a management perspective, AI has the advantage of not getting embroiled in controversies like human entertainers. Additionally, there is an opinion that the activities of AI singers are relatively easier compared to actors.
With the expansion of AI, significant changes in the industry are inevitable. As the workforce for star management decreases, more people might lose their jobs. However, there is also an optimistic outlook that if artists enhance their skills to create something irreplaceable by AI, their value may increase instead. Ultimately, the scarcity value of human entertainers will not disappear even with the advancement of AI.
The future entertainment industry is likely to evolve into a new form where AI and human entertainers coexist. The ability to create new content through collaboration with AI will become a new competitive edge in the entertainment industry. In this process, the authenticity and creativity of human entertainers will remain important elements.
