The Russo Brothers' latest Netflix film, The Electric State, has sparked significant conversation since its debut on Friday, particularly regarding its use of AI in the current industry climate. Joe Russo, who co-directed the film with his brother Anthony, has defended the incorporation of AI for voice modulation, describing it as "something any 10-year-old could do after watching a TikTok video."

In an interview with The Times, Joe Russo addressed the controversy, stating, "There’s a lot of finger-pointing and hyperbole because people are afraid. They don’t understand. But ultimately you’ll see AI used more significantly." He further elaborated on AI's potential, noting, "Also, AI is in its generative state now, where it has, as we call them, hallucinations. You can’t do mission-critical work with something that hallucinates. That is a reason self-driving cars haven’t taken over, or why AI surgery is not taking place worldwide. But in its generative state, AI is best suited towards creativity."

While many artists across various fields view AI as the opposite of creativity, some studios are eager to adopt the technology once it's fully developed. In July 2024, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos stated that audiences "don’t care" about AI's use in film and television. Sarandos emphasized that AI could help creators "tell better stories," saying, "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."

Despite some enthusiasm for AI, not everyone is on board. Last month, Marvel denied using AI to generate teaser posters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, even though one image featured a character with a four-fingered hand.

The Electric State was directed and produced by Anthony and Joe Russo, based on a script by Stephen McFeely and Christopher Markus, which loosely adapted Simon Stalenhag's 2018 illustrated novel. The film boasts an impressive 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 forward, 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.