The Russo Brothers’ latest Netflix release, The Electric State, has sparked widespread discussion since its Friday premiere, particularly over its integration of AI technology amid ongoing industry debates.

Joe Russo, co-director of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame alongside his brother Anthony, has championed AI’s role in voice modulation for The Electric State, describing it as a technique “accessible even to a 10-year-old after a quick TikTok tutorial.”

“There’s a lot of fear-driven rhetoric and exaggeration,” Joe Russo told The Times. “People don’t fully grasp it yet, but AI’s presence will only grow stronger.”

Russo emphasized the technology’s creative promise. “AI is currently in a generative phase, prone to what we call hallucinations, which limits its use in critical tasks,” he explained. “That’s why self-driving cars or AI surgeries aren’t widespread. But in this stage, AI shines in creative applications.”

Despite skepticism from artists across various fields who view AI as a threat to creativity, some studios are eager to adopt it. In July 2024, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos argued that viewers “aren’t concerned” about AI’s use in film and TV, asserting it “empowers creators to craft superior narratives.”

“The shift from hand-drawn to CG animation didn’t cut costs—it elevated quality,” Sarandos noted during a call. “Today, more people work in animation than ever before. Improving content by 10% will always outweigh slashing budgets by 50%.”

Not all studios are rushing to embrace AI. Last month, Marvel clarified it did not use AI for teaser posters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, despite a four-fingered hand appearing in one image.

Directed and produced by Anthony and Joe Russo, The Electric State features a script by Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus, 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 gave The Electric State a 4/10, stating: “Marvel’s top directors team up with Netflix’s algorithm for The Electric State, a $300-million film that falls flat.”

The Russo Brothers are set to helm Marvel Studios’ upcoming Avengers films: Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.