Natalya🧚🏽‍♀️

Hi everyone. We’d like to address the recent discussion around the AI video contest, and first of all, we’re sorry for upsetting players with this event. We’re also sorry that we didn’t communicate with everyone clearly enough before the event started. Our original goal was to lower the barrier to creation. In past contests, we saw players with great ideas and scripts who couldn’t fully bring them to life because they weren’t familiar with tools like editing, modeling, or animation software. We hoped AI could be a more accessible tool that lets more people take part. That said, we understand the concerns around AI content. We are not trying to dismiss handmade work or disrespect creators. To us, AI is just another tool. What we truly care about is the idea, the expression, and the final work. We’d like to leave the next step up to the community. Please vote on what we should do: 1. Cancel the AI video contest 2. Change it into a non-AI creation contest 3. Keep the AI category and add a separate handmade category If you have another suggestion outside of these three options, please feel free to share it as well. Thank you.

The Academy has banned AI from ever winning an Oscar. • Only roles “demonstrably performed by humans with their consent” can be nominated for acting Oscars • Screenplays “must be human-authored” to qualify for a nomination

‘SMILING FRIENDS’ has ended after 4 years.