Did the Russo Brothers use AI in The Electric State? Details explored

A couple of years ago, Joe Russo, who directed The Electric State recently with his brother Anthony Russo, predicted that in a couple of years we may see artificial intelligence (AI) making films. After almost a couple of years, we are not really close to it.

Now Joe has spoken again, and he confirmed that they used AI in some capacity in their latest film full of artificial beings. The film didn't get a great response, not because of AI, but because critics think it's soulless. But those reviews failed to stem the tide of it becoming the Netflix hit. That landed straight in the number one spot on the streaming platform.

AGBO, the Russo Brothers' company that co-produced the film alongside Double Dream and Skybound Entertainment, embraces AI and has a former Apple veteran and AI expert, Dominic Hughes, on board as the Chief Scientific Officer. If we see them using the technology in their upcoming films, that wouldn't strike us as a shocker.

Disclaimer: The article contains the author's opinions.

How did the Russo Brothers use AI in The Electric State?

The Russo Brothers sat down with The Times and discussed this as they addressed that they used artificial intelligence for voice alteration in the film as "any ten-year-old could do after watching a TikTok video."

Now that wasn't it; Joe Russo thinks the technology is in sort of a hallucinatory state at the moment. He said,

"There’s a lot of finger-pointing and hyperbole because people are afraid. They don’t understand. But ultimately you’ll see AI used more significantly. Also, AI is in its generative state now, where it has, as we call them, hallucinations. You can’t do mission-critical work with something that hallucinates. That is a reason self-driving cars haven’t taken over, or why AI surgery is not taking place worldwide. But in its generative state, AI is best suited towards creativity."

Following the Russo Brothers' revelation about The Electric State, netizens couldn't help but fire their opinions on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Currently, the film sits at a 14% score at Rotten Tomatoes; that's the lowest-rated movie sitting in their film cabinet to this date. Avengers: Endgame (2019) is still their best with 94%.

But there's something about AI that bothers the brothers

Of course, now no one would want to be replaced by artificial intelligence. Instead, it should come as a helping hand. Just like how J.A.R.V.I.S. is to Tony or H.E.R.B.I.E. to the Fantastic Four. Interestingly, fans suspected The Fantastic Four: First Steps used AI in their poster too.

The Electric State directors are concerned about this, as they recently told Zavvi in another interview. Joe Russo is concerned that,

"You can’t have AI acting autonomously—the most important and simplest rule for regulating it to me is that it must go through humans first."

While they are adamant in their support for AI, other filmmakers aren't really. Many believe the technology might wreck the industry. The recent writer's strike that was a big blow to Hollywood was, in part, born out of this fear only.

From Late Night with the Devil (2023) to Oscar winner The Brutalist (2024), filmmakers have tasted some healthy backlash. But that does tell us that, somewhere, what The Electric State directors believe about AI is somewhat true.