The AI tracker

From Hollywood experiments to Hindi chatbots, six stories shaping the future of AI

- SUGANDHA MUKHERJEE

AI's Cannes debut OpenAI is stepping into Hollywood with its first AI-driven animated feature, Critterz, which is expected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival before a global release in 2026. According to the Wall Street Journal, the project is being developed in collaboration with London's Vertigo Films and LA-based Native Foreign. What makes Critterz notable is that it will be produced almost entirely with OpenAI's own generative AI technology, including GPT-5, the company's recently launched flagship model. The budget is reportedly under $30 million, with a timeline of just nine months.

OpenAI's goal is clear: to demonstrate that AI can deliver cinematic quality at a fraction of the cost. The film's reception at Cannes will likely set the tone for whether AI can gain a real foothold in global cinema.