Jorge R. Gutierrez, one of the filmmakers behind an AI-driven project greenlighted by Amazon Prime Video via a newly established creator fund, has decided to drop out of the program.
Citing backlash from creative peers and fans, Gutierrez announced the move Friday on social media.
“I will not be making a Punky Duck series,” he wrote on X. “Actions speak louder than words. My intent was to showcase artists, both new and seasoned, both inside and outside the studios, driving this new tech. My sincerest apology to those I upset. I promise to do better moving forward. Thank you for your patience with me. I will try harder.”
Amazon announced the creation of the GenAI Creators’ Fund, which is also backed by its AWS division, on Wednesday as the AI on the Lot conference kicked off in Los Angeles. The company said Punky Duck and two other series would stream on Prime Video as part of the program. The tech company was one of the event’s title sponsors. Albert Cheng, VP and head of AI studios for Amazon MGM Studios, talked up Punky Duck and the other series in an appearance at the conference.
With attendance of nearly 2,500, the conference demonstrated the strong creative appetite to explore constructive uses of AI. But that groundswell is playing out against a backdrop of extreme sensitivity across the creative community given the dynamics of the emerging technology, whose models are trained on established IP. For every James Cameron and Jon Favreau leaning into AI, there are many others who insist it is an invitation to copyright violation that will only exacerbate the industry’s challenges.
Amazon MGM Studios did not respond to Deadline’s request for comment.
Here is the message from Gutierrez, who made a separate apperarance from Cheng’s at AI on the Lot to discuss the project, and subsequently had a lot of back-and-forth with his followers:
