Google DeepMind invests $75M in A24 for AI filmmaking research

Google DeepMind and film studio A24 announced a long-term research partnership on June 22, 2026, that will have A24 filmmakers test and shape AI tools during routine production work. Google is also investing roughly $75 million in A24, according to the Wall Street Journal.

What is the partnership?

The partnership is a multi-project research agreement in which A24 will test AI tools in professional filmmaking, while Google DeepMind will use the collaboration to gather real-world feedback. Eli Collins, VP of Product at Google DeepMind, described the arrangement in a blog post as spanning several projects and focused on figuring out how AI can be useful in film production.

Further specifics remain scarce. The announcement did not list concrete products, timelines, or deliverables; both sides framed the deal in exploratory terms and said they will work together to identify useful applications for AI in the production process.

How will A24 filmmakers participate?

A24 filmmakers will embed testing and tool-shaping into their day-to-day workflows, providing hands-on feedback to DeepMind researchers. The primary source says filmmakers will "test and help shape AI tools as part of their day-to-day work," with DeepMind receiving the practical feedback those professionals generate.

The arrangement positions working film crews and creative teams as active collaborators rather than passive users, but the blog post and announcement did not specify which stages of production will be involved, which types of tools will be trialed, or how results will be shared beyond the partnership.

Why it matters

The deal pairs a major AI research lab with an influential independent studio, creating a pipeline for early, production-grade feedback from professional filmmakers. That pathway could change how research priorities are set inside DeepMind by exposing researchers directly to on-set needs and constraints, and it could shape what kinds of tools A24 will adopt.

The lack of concrete deliverables also matters. The announcement is intentionally vague, so the immediate practical impact on film workflows and on wider industry norms remains uncertain. The partnership combines research resources and practical access, but the outcome is not defined in the announcement.

What to watch

Watch for concrete pilot projects, named tools, or published results emerging from the partnership, and for any public descriptions from Eli Collins or A24 about specific workflows or outcomes. The Wall Street Journal figure of roughly $75 million for Google's investment is a useful benchmark; future disclosures that detail how that funding is used or tied to projects will clarify the partnership's scope.

A24 is known for films such as "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and the recent "Backrooms," which provides context about the studio's creative profile but not about technical choices. The next signals to look for are announcements of pilot tests, credits acknowledging tool use, or demonstrations that show tangible production changes tied to the collaboration.