Hollywood Leaders Clash Over AI at CES 2026
Entertainment executives, tech leaders and creators used the CES 2026 stage in Las Vegas to intensify debates over how artificial intelligence should be used in film, television and digital media.[5] The conference featured dedicated programming on Hollywood, influencers and AI, reflecting how central the technology has become to the industry’s future.[5]
Panels highlighted growing concern over AI-generated performers, including backlash that followed the debut of Tilly Norwood, an entirely AI-made character promoted as the first “AI actor.”[5] Speakers acknowledged unresolved questions around using copyrighted movies, images and other creative works as training data without clear consent or compensation for rights holders.[5]
Some studio and tech representatives argued that AI can be a powerful tool to enhance, not replace, human creativity. One executive described AI as “another tool in the tool kit” that should support directors, actors and artists in driving higher-quality work rather than flooding feeds with low-value content.[5] Programming tied to Variety’s Entertainment Summit brought in leaders from Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery to outline how major companies are experimenting with AI while trying to avoid triggering another labor showdown.[5]
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Launches Creators Coalition on AI
Actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt emerged as one of the most forceful voices for creators’ rights at CES, using a moderated conversation to criticize common AI training practices.[5] He recently announced the formation of a new organization, the Creators Coalition on AI, aimed at pushing for fair standards on how artists’ work can be used by technology companies.[5]
Gordon-Levitt focused on large-scale scraping of films, books and music catalogs to train AI models, calling it “passive theft” when it occurs without permission or payment.[5] He argued that the industry will ultimately have to recognize a basic principle that people deserve to be paid for their work, predicting that future legal or regulatory steps could seek “recourse for all the stuff that was stolen.”[5]
The coalition effort signals that AI policy will likely remain a front-line issue in Hollywood even after last year’s strikes over residuals and digital replicas. For working actors, writers and below-the-line crew, the outcome of this debate could shape how they are credited and compensated when their likenesses, performances or scripts are used to train or power new tools.
SNL 50th Season Lines Up High-Profile Hosts and Musical Guests
As NBC’s Saturday Night Live marks its landmark 50th season, the show is rolling out a slate of notable hosts and musical guests to anchor its early-2026 run.[1][2] Producers are leaning on a mix of younger stars and established performers to keep the long-running franchise culturally central during a crowded election-year media cycle.[1][2]
In an upcoming January episode, Finn Wolfhard will make his SNL hosting debut, paired with rapper ASAP Rocky as musical guest, marking a first appearance on the Studio 8H stage for both.[1] Later in the month, Teyana Taylor is set to host, continuing the show’s push to feature multi-hyphenate artists who bridge music, film and fashion.[1]
The 50th-season milestone is being marked in other ways as well. A New York feature on local entertainment coverage noted that SNL is even getting its own line of commemorative bobbleheads, underscoring the show’s status as a TV institution as it enters its second half-century.[2] The anniversary run comes as NBC looks to keep live sketch comedy event-worthy in an era dominated by streaming and on-demand clips.
James Cameron Sets New Billion-Dollar Box Office Record
Director James Cameron has once again reshaped the box office record books, as his latest film, "Avatar: Fire and Ash," has crossed the $1 billion mark in global ticket sales.[3] The milestone gives Cameron four separate movies in the "billion-dollar club," the most for any director in history.[3]
His tally now includes all three "Avatar" installments along with "Titanic," pushing him ahead of Marvel’s Russo brothers, who have three billion-dollar "Avengers" titles to their name.[3] Cameron’s record also places him above other blockbuster mainstays: Christopher Nolan and Peter Jackson each have two billion-dollar films, while Steven Spielberg’s only entry at that level remains the original "Jurassic Park."[3]
The latest "Avatar" performance reinforces Cameron’s reputation for delivering massive, effects-driven spectacles that can still draw global theatrical audiences in a streaming-heavy era. Industry analysts view the film’s numbers as a key data point for studios weighing whether to continue investing in expensive, multi-film sci-fi franchises aimed at worldwide markets.
Prestige Drama Returns After Critics Choice Win
On the television side, a buzzy hospital-set drama is capitalizing on fresh awards momentum to drive its new season launch. After winning Best Drama Series at the Critics Choice Awards, the series "The Pit" is returning with a season premiere on HBO Max that picks up directly after last year’s hospital shooting cliffhanger.[3]
The new episodes, led by star Noah Wyle, will follow staff members dealing with the fallout from the violent attack and an ER lockdown that left several characters fighting for their lives.[3] The show’s awards success and high-stakes storyline are expected to boost viewership as streamers compete for attention amid a packed slate of returning series and new debuts.
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