No Suno for you! Sound editors ban AI from Golden Reel Awards over ethical concerns

The Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) has banned generative AI-created sound work from eligibility for its Golden Reel Awards, citing unresolved legal and ethical standards around AI use. The decision positions the prestigious sound editing awards as a key battleground in the entertainment industry’s ongoing struggle to define boundaries for artificial intelligence in creative work.

What you should know: The MPSE board made the decision based on concerns about the current lack of established standards for AI use in creative fields.

• “Standards for the legal and ethical use of Generative AI have yet to be established and are far from being accepted broadly,” the organization stated.
• The Golden Reel Awards recognize achievements in sound editing, sound design, music editing and foley artistry across film, television and gaming.
• Recent winners at the 72nd annual ceremony included “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Perez,” “Wicked,” “The Wild Robot” and “Saturday Night” in film categories, with TV winners including “Ripley,” “Shogun,” “The Penguin” and “Only Murders in the Building.”

Why this matters: The ban represents a significant stance by a major industry organization as generative AI continues infiltrating entertainment production workflows.

• MPSE President David Barber framed the decision as preserving artistic integrity: “What we choose to promote as award-worthy points to how much we value the human endeavor of artistic creation.”
• The move comes as entertainment companies grapple with how to integrate AI tools while maintaining creative standards and protecting human artistry.

What they’re saying: Industry leaders are calling for urgent development of AI guidelines to preserve film and television integrity.

• “It is an enormous question to ask: how much of our humanity are we willing to give away to technology, especially in the arts,” said Barber.
• “The time to ponder that question, set up boundaries, and guide how AI is assimilated into our workflow and lives was yesterday. The dam of AI has broken, and the waters are upon us,” he added.
• The organization emphasized support for technological advances: “We support and prize technological advances that assist artists in their creations.”

Looking ahead: The MPSE indicated its position could evolve as industry standards develop.

• The organization’s board of directors and AI committee are “poised to evolve our stance on this issue” as the industry establishes clearer guidelines.
• “We remain open to what the technological future may bring in support of the humans working in the craft of sound editorial,” the statement noted.
• Barber stressed the need for “rules and accepted practices for its use need to emerge that keep artists at the forefront.”