The AI Wave Hits VFX

Artificial intelligence has moved from a buzzword to a practical production tool across the visual effects industry. In 2025, studios large and small are integrating machine-learning-powered tools into pipelines that previously required hours of manual labour. The pace of change is significant — and for working VFX artists, understanding where AI is genuinely useful (and where it still falls short) has become a professional necessity.

Where AI Is Making a Real Difference

Automated Rotoscoping

Rotoscoping — the frame-by-frame process of manually masking subjects out of footage — has historically been one of the most labour-intensive tasks in VFX. Tools like Adobe's Roto Brush (now powered by Sensei AI) and standalone applications such as Runway ML and Silhouette have dramatically reduced roto time on clean shots. What might have taken a team days can now be completed in hours on well-lit, clear footage.

The caveat: AI roto still struggles with fine hair detail, motion blur, and complex backgrounds. Human review and cleanup remains essential for broadcast and theatrical quality work.

Upscaling and Restoration

AI-based upscaling tools — including Topaz Video AI and DaVinci Resolve's built-in Super Scale — have become standard for restoring archival footage, upscaling lower-resolution plates, and recovering detail from heavily compressed source material. These tools use trained neural networks to intelligently reconstruct high-frequency detail rather than simply interpolating pixels.

AI-Assisted Tracking

Camera and object tracking has benefited significantly from machine learning. Tools integrated into Resolve, After Effects, and standalone trackers are now faster and more reliable on difficult shots — including low-contrast scenes, fast motion, and partial occlusion — than their traditional counterparts were just a few years ago.

Generative Background Plates

Perhaps the most controversial area: text-to-image and text-to-video AI models are beginning to appear in discussions around background plate generation. Some productions have explored using AI-generated backgrounds for simple shots where location costs are prohibitive. This remains legally and creatively complex territory, with ongoing industry debate around intellectual property and creative credit.

What This Means for VFX Artists

The honest answer is nuanced. AI tools are primarily accelerating existing workflows rather than eliminating skilled roles — at least for now. The artists best positioned to thrive are those who:

  • Understand which AI tools to use for which tasks and why.
  • Can critically evaluate AI output and know how to fix its characteristic failure modes.
  • Continue developing core compositing, colour, and artistic skills that underpin all VFX work regardless of the toolset.

Industry Responses and Concerns

VFX unions and guilds, particularly in the US and UK, have raised legitimate concerns about the pace of AI adoption — especially around transparency in credit attribution, the use of artists' work to train models without consent, and the potential for entry-level VFX roles (like roto and paint) to shrink. These are live conversations without settled answers, and staying informed is important for anyone working in or entering the industry.

Looking Ahead

AI in VFX is not a threat to artistry — it's a shift in what the artist's time is spent on. The tedious, repetitive tasks are increasingly automated. The creative, problem-solving, and artistic judgement work remains firmly human. Embracing the tools while maintaining and developing core craft skills is the clearest path forward for VFX artists navigating this moment.