Crunchyroll Finally Backs Down From Controversial AI Plan

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After Crunchyroll CEO Rahul Purini expressed a desire to grow their anime content using artificial intelligence (AI) a year ago, the company has since abandoned their initially divisive proposals – bringing great comfort to the fanbase.

The ongoing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in our daily lives has sparked a heated discussion about its involvement in creative endeavors. For instance, productions like Megalopolis, Thunderbolts in cinema, True Detective on TV, and online personalities such as Vikkstar and JCS have all encountered criticism for utilizing AI within their content creations.

In the realm of anime, where artistic flair and imagination reign supreme, even this world isn’t exempt from innovation. Last month, OpenAI unveiled an AI-powered image generator, designed to produce artwork reminiscent of the masterful strokes by Studio Ghibli’s iconic animator Hayao Miyazaki, through ChatGPT.

Initially, the introduction of these online tools sparked widespread interest, but opinions were divided. Some criticized the tools for being exploitative, while others raised concerns reminiscent of those expressed towards Crunchyroll months prior, when they disclosed their intention to integrate AI into their operations.

Crunchyroll backs down from AI plan

Meanwhile, it appears that Purini has changed his stance on certain matters. In a recent conversation with Forbes, he clarified that at this time, Crunchyroll does not incorporate AI into their creative processes, such as their voice acting.

They’re seen as originators since they’re adding their unique voices to shape the narrative and progression of the story.

In comparison to his discussion with The Verge last year, he expressed a different perspective, stating that AI is indeed an area they actively consider across multiple processes within their company.

At present, a key aspect we’re working on is perfecting our subtitling and closed captioning. This involves converting speech into text and finding ways to streamline and enhance our processes. Our goal is to produce subtitles in multiple languages quickly so that we can release content as close in time to the Japanese launch as feasible.

“So that’s definitely an area where we are focused on.”

As a dedicated gamer, I’m always eager to know about updates that can enhance my gaming experience. Recently, Purini shared some insights on their plans, stating they’re exploring AI in backend systems to boost content discovery, suggestions, and personalization – all aimed at making it easier for me to find and enjoy the games I love. But rest assured, these changes won’t affect the anime itself; they’re purely focused on improving our gaming journey.

This development is delightful for enthusiasts of the streaming platform, renowned for delivering cherished anime series such as One Piece, Attack on Titan, and Demon Slayer to a worldwide audience in both subtitled and voice-dubbed formats.

Regarding the topic of captions, someone expressed their viewpoint about this matter: “When I pay for a service, I anticipate receiving accurate captions. Inconvenient automatic captions are extremely aggravating.

Another individual expressed their relief, saying “I’m so grateful for it, but the AI subtitling leaves much to be desired… they aren’t even faithful translations.” They added that if the subtitles were only word-for-word translations, shows would be almost incomprehensible.

A significant victory for the anime enthusiasts was announced as Crunchyroll decided to abandon their contentious AI-dubbing strategy,” stated a third party.

To learn about the latest updates on One Piece, explore details on Chapter 1146’s plot twists and airing schedule, browse through our top picks for anime series with captivating narratives, and discover highly-rated anime films available on Netflix.

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2025-04-16 12:24