Disney use of AI for Marvel TV series spooks Hollywood

AI in the new Marvel superhero series “Secret Invasion” has sparked anxiety and anger in Hollywood during the strikes.

The use of artificial intelligence in the new Marvel superhero series "Secret Invasion" has sparked anxiety and anger in Hollywood, at a time when television and film writers are already striking over their uncertain futures.

Director Ali Selim revealed in a recent interview that the Disney+ show - a paranoia-rich spy thriller about shape-shifting aliens that stars Samuel L Jackson - used AI as well as human illustrators to generate its opening credits.

The abstract sequence in question blends green-hued urban landscapes, spaceships and shadowy human characters, many of whom gradually reveal themselves to be the reptilian extra-terrestrial "Skrulls" of the series.

Selim told the Polygon website that the use of AI was intended to provide a sense of "foreboding."

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"When we reached out to the AI vendors, that was part of it -- it just came right out of the shape-shifting, Skrull world identity, you know? 'Who did this? Who is this?'" he said.

"We would talk to them about ideas and themes and words, and then the computer would go off and do something. And then we could change it a little bit by using words, and it would change."