The Russo Brothers' latest Netflix film, The Electric State, has sparked considerable conversation since its debut on Friday. Amid the current industry climate, the film's use of AI has been a hot topic among fans and critics alike.

Joe Russo, who co-directed Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame with his brother Anthony, has defended the use of AI in The Electric State, particularly for voice modulation. In an interview with The Times, Joe Russo described the AI application as "something any 10-year-old could do after watching a TikTok video." He acknowledged the fear and misunderstanding surrounding AI but emphasized its growing significance in the industry. "There's a lot of finger-pointing and hyperbole because people are afraid," Russo stated. "They don't understand. But ultimately you'll see AI used more significantly."

Russo also highlighted AI's current generative state, which he referred to as having "hallucinations," making it unsuitable for mission-critical tasks like self-driving cars or AI-assisted surgery. However, he believes AI is well-suited for creative endeavors. "But in its generative state, AI is best suited towards creativity," he noted.

Despite many artists across various fields viewing AI as the antithesis of creativity, some studios are eager to adopt the technology. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, speaking in July 2024, claimed that audiences "don't care" if AI is used in the content they consume. Sarandos argued that AI is "a great way for creators to tell better stories." He drew parallels with the transition from hand-drawn to CG animation, noting, "Animation didn't get cheaper, it got better in the move from hand-drawn to CG animation, and more people work in animation today than ever in history. So I'm pretty sure there's a better business and a bigger business in making content 10% better than there is in making it 50% cheaper."

Not everyone is immediately embracing AI, however. Last month, Marvel denied using AI to create teaser posters for their upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, despite noticeable anomalies in the artwork.

The Electric State was directed and produced by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a script by Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus, loosely adapted from Simon Stalenhag's 2018 illustrated novel. The film boasts a star-studded cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Woody Harrelson, Jason Alexander, Anthony Mackie, Jenny Slate, Giancarlo Esposito, Brian Cox, and Stanley Tucci.

IGN's review of The Electric State gave it a 4/10, describing it as "Marvel's biggest hitmakers join forces again with the Netflix algorithm to deliver The Electric State, a $300-million anti-event movie."

Looking ahead, the Russo Brothers are set to direct the next two Avengers films for Marvel Studios: Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.