AI set to slash demand for film crews

Artificial intelligence (AI) could reduce the demand for film crews in Thailand by roughly 40% within the next 3-5 years, according to entertainment executives. This technology is driving the emergence of "one-man corporations" that can create films with significantly lower production costs than traditional methods, potentially cutting expenses by half.

Thailand's creative economy, valued at $8.6 billion, could leverage AI to capture greater value in the industry, as demonstrated by a Thai-Chinese AI-hybrid feature film slated for release in 2027, which aims to cut production costs from 30 million baht to 15 million baht. Despite the shift towards AI-assisted filmmaking, directors, scriptwriters, and other creative professionals will remain essential to storytelling and artistic judgment.

Thailand's competitive advantages in creativity and cultural storytelling will help the country compete globally, especially in localized content for regional markets. The rapid development of AI-generated content (AIGC) is also contributing to the rise of one-person AI companies, with around 100,000 such businesses emerging in China.

Short-form content, made possible by AI, is projected to reach $6 billion this year, driven by the growing demand for mobile entertainment and vertical video formats. While fully AI-generated productions, featuring virtual actors, are gaining acceptance in China, audiences in Thailand and Japan remain more cautious about entirely synthetic content.

AI is transforming production economics by automating administrative tasks, such as managing employment contracts and shooting schedules, while reducing the need for physical sets and post-production work. New technical roles, such as AI operators and storyboard artists, are emerging to support this transformation.