Google is putting money into the respected indie studio A24 to develop AI tools for making movies — good for tech firms and small filmmakers, worrying for Hollywood jobs.

• Google is investing $75 million in A24 as part of an AI research partnership, its first stake in a studio.
• The deal is really about building new AI movie-making tools, not funding films — A24's tech partner is a known "tools" guy from Adobe.
• AI is starting to seriously enter film this year, with major studios running AI projects and full AI movies at festivals like Sundance.
• Films that once cost $100 million could be made for a few million, handing far more power to independent creators working from home.
• This will erase some film jobs, even as it lets studios load up unknown creators with cheap AI tech to find new talent.

Outlook: AI is expected to become a normal part of filmmaking within three years, with more projects made largely or entirely with these tools.