Artificial intelligence has sparked intense fear across Hollywood, with actors, writers, and creatives worried about replacement, job loss, and the erosion of human artistry. The industry trembled at AI's rampant expansion into scripts, deepfakes, and automated editing. Yet while studios hesitated, one giant leapt forward. And just when things are getting extremely divided on opinions on AI, Amazon just shocked everyone by fully embracing AI in production, especially with Jorge R. Gutiérrez at the helm of affairs.

Amazon MGM Studios launched its GenAI Creators' Fund, greenlighting three animated series for Prime Video while emphasizing that AI would empower, not replace, human creatives, all made by Amazon's AI platform, Project Nara. Leading the charge was Jorge R. Gutiérrez, the acclaimed director of The Book of Life and creator of El Tigre and Netflix's Maya and the Three, who developed Punky Duck under the initiative. This left a bitter taste in the fans' mouths.

Jorge R. Gutiérrez took to X to address the polarized reaction to his Amazon AI collaboration, acknowledging that while some fans celebrated his work, others were furious. He opened the comments section to let people vent their anger, hoping it would help them feel better, but drew a firm line at threats. He made it clear that people could criticize him all they wanted, but his family would remain off-limits.

The studio's Project Nara integrated with existing production tools like Maya, Blender, and Unreal Engine, offering creators a collaborative workspace with provenance tracking. Gutiérrez and other creators received a five-week deadline to complete proof-of-concept pilots, demonstrating AI's ability to accelerate production timelines. The other two projects under GenAI Creators Funds are Love, Diana Music Hunters from Albie Hecht and Cupcake & Friends from BuzzFeed Studios.

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As Gutierrez took it to X to respond to the backlash, a wave of mixed reactions streaming in from longtime supporters and disappointed fans followed him.

The fan reaction to Jorge R. Gutiérrez's Amazon AI collaboration was deeply divided, with longtime fans expressing heartbreak over what they saw as a betrayal of human creativity. One of the users, who loved El Tigre as a kid, called it one of his top three childhood cartoons but refused to follow Gutiérrez into AI. A fan translating from Spanish praised Gutiérrez as one of Tijuana's "most b***** exponents" but pleaded with him to take another path, fearing his iconic style would be devalued by AI.

For many, Gutiérrez's work represented hope and representation in animation. One fan wrote that seeing his art growing up showed them 'anyone even my little brown ass could make art,' and hearing him use AI 'genuinely broke my heart.' Another admirer said their "heart breaks for all the creatives your work lifted, especially those in/from Mexico," calling it incredibly disappointing that Gutiérrez would abandon the unique voice that made him stand out. 

Yet not everyone condemned the move. One fan offered kudos, saying, how he cannot wait to see how "a real professional uses these tools," representing the minority who saw AI as a legitimate creative instrument. 

While on one end are people like The Office UK's comedy editor Nigel Williams, who believes AI can sharpen comedy timing, on the other spectrum are individuals who distrust AI for creative work. Ultimately, the backlash revealed a deeper tension in Hollywood: fans did not hate Gutiérrez's talent; they loved it too much to watch him embrace what they see as an existential threat to the art form.

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What do you think about the backlash Jorge R. Gutierrez is facing because of AI usage? Let us know in the comments.