The film 'The Brutalist,' directed by Brady Corbet, has ignited controversy due to its use of AI technology to enhance the Hungarian accents of lead actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones.

To refine the dialogue, the production utilized AI tools from the Ukrainian company Respeecher, which allowed for voice alterations based on the actors' speech characteristics.

Initial efforts to achieve the desired accent through traditional ADR methods were unsuccessful, prompting the search for alternative enhancement techniques.

The film tells the story of architect László Toth and his wife, who fled Europe in 1947, focusing on the impact of a project commissioned by industrialist Harrison Van Buren.

Premiering at the Venice Film Festival in September 2024, 'The Brutalist' won the Silver Lion award and has since garnered three Golden Globe nominations, including best director for Corbet.

Corbet emphasized that the film's creation was driven by human creativity and collaboration, expressing pride in the team's achievements despite the controversy.

The backlash intensified after it was revealed that generative AI was also used to create architectural drawings for a sequence in the film, leading to significant online criticism.

Brody's portrayal of László Tóth earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, making him a strong contender for the upcoming Oscars.

Editor Dávid Jancsó sparked the debate by discussing the AI usage in an interview, suggesting that such techniques are not new to the industry.

Public reaction has been mixed, with some expressing genuine concerns about AI's impact on jobs while others criticize the perceived technophobia surrounding the issue.

This controversy reflects a broader anxiety regarding AI's role in creative fields, highlighting the need for clearer regulations on its use in filmmaking.

Critics argue that the use of AI undermines craftsmanship and human creativity, particularly in a film that centers on architecture.