Kevin O’Leary says AI extras could save Hollywood $25M on films

“Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary has suggested that movies like A24’s “Marty Supreme,” in which he makes his acting debut, could save millions of dollars by replacing background actors with AI-generated extras. The investor’s comments highlight the growing tension between Hollywood’s cost-cutting pressures and the industry’s reliance on human performers, particularly as AI technology becomes more sophisticated and accessible.

What they’re saying: O’Leary argued that AI could dramatically reduce production costs without compromising visual quality.

• “Almost every scene had as many as 150 extras. Now, those people have to stay awake for 18 hours, be completely dressed in the background. [They’re] not necessarily in the movie, but they’re necessary to be there moving around. And yet, it costs millions of dollars to do that,” O’Leary explained.
• “Why couldn’t you simply put AI agents in their place? Because they’re not the main actors. They’re only in the story visually. [You could] save millions of dollars, so more movies could be made.”

The AI examples: O’Leary referenced specific AI entertainment products to support his argument, though he made some factual errors in naming them.

• He discussed Tilly Norwood (which he incorrectly called “Tilly Norwell”), an AI “actress” that sparked controversy when unveiled at the Zurich Summit in September.
• “She’s 100% AI. She doesn’t exist. But she’s a great actress. She can come in any age you want. She doesn’t need to eat, so she works 24 hours a day. The union is going out of their mind,” O’Leary said.
• He also mentioned The Velvet Sundown (which he called “Velvet Sunset”), describing it as an AI-generated music act in the “top 10% of all downloads.”

Industry pushback: SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, has already condemned AI replacement technologies like Tilly Norwood.

• The union issued a statement saying such products are “jeopardizing performer livelihoods and devaluing human artistry.”
• O’Leary acknowledged union resistance but maintained his position: “The union is going out of their mind.”

O’Leary’s AI investments: The businessman revealed he’s developing his own AI avatar and expanding internationally.

• “We’ve got AI Kevin now and we did it in Abu Dhabi. I’m going back there in a couple weeks. I’m going to train the model even more,” he said.
• He’s seeking full citizenship in the United Arab Emirates as the AI industry grows abroad.
• “This next AI Kevin, you will not be able to tell the difference,” O’Leary predicted.

The big picture: “Marty Supreme” represents A24’s most expensive production ever with a budget exceeding $60 million.

• The 1950s period piece stars Timothée Chalamet as a ping-pong prodigy, with Gwyneth Paltrow playing his love interest and O’Leary as Paltrow’s character’s husband.
• O’Leary suggested the same director “could’ve spent $35 million and made two movies” using AI extras instead of human background actors.
• The film releases in theaters on Christmas Day.