New Delhi: Hollywood’s slow but steady shift toward artificial intelligence took a visible turn this week, with Lionsgate confirming that it has created a new top-level role focused entirely on AI. As per Deadline, the studio has appointed Kathleen Grace as its first Chief AI Officer, signalling a deeper push into using AI across filmmaking, marketing, distribution, and internal operations.
For an industry still debating how far AI should go, the move places Lionsgate among the first major Hollywood studios to formalise AI leadership at the executive level. Grace will report directly to CEO Jon Feltheimer and will sit on the company’s senior decision-making team.
What Kathleen Grace’s new role looks like
Lionsgate says Grace will lead the studio’s AI strategy and execution, with a focus on both creative and business functions.
Her responsibilities include:
- Providing tools that “serve the creative vision of its filmmakers”
- Creating new efficiencies across production, marketing, distribution and administrative teams
- Spearheading initiatives to protect the IP of the studio and its talent partners
Feltheimer said in a statement, “Kathleen understands the AI ecosystem from the perspective of creators and IP holders alike, and she is the right person to lead our team forward in this exciting, complex and nuanced environment.” He added that her expertise will help Lionsgate “grow alongside our talent partners as we create new opportunities, establish new safeguards, and execute new strategies.”
Grace echoed that view, saying, “I’m very excited to become part of the team at Lionsgate. They have amazing creative partners, a rich and diverse portfolio of IP, an entrepreneurial and forward-looking culture, and a willingness to adapt to and embrace new technologies.”
Background in IP protection and digital studios
Grace joins from Vermillio, where she served as chief strategy officer. The company describes itself as an AI platform built to license and protect IP and likeness. At Vermillio, Grace worked on AI protection and rights management, ensuring that content owners and talent could track, authenticate and be compensated for the use of their work in AI models.
Vermillio co-founder and CEO Dan Neely said, “We’re proud to see Kathleen step into a pioneering role as the first Chief AI Officer at a Hollywood studio.”
Earlier in her career, Grace headed New Form, a digital studio backed by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Discovery Communications. She developed more than 40 pilots and sold nearly 25 series to platforms such as TBS, go90, Freeform, Quibi and Refinery29. She also led YouTube’s global Spaces initiative.
Lionsgate’s AI push
Lionsgate has already been open about experimenting with AI. In late 2024, the studio announced a partnership with Runway to train a proprietary AI model to serve its filmmakers.
During a recent earnings call, Feltheimer said, “We continue to find exciting new use cases as we apply AI to more areas of our business, increasing our productivity, generating cost savings and expanding our creative tool kit,” stressing that AI use must come with “appropriate guardrails.”
For a studio behind franchises like John Wick and The Hunger Games, the appointment shows how seriously Hollywood’s old guard is now taking AI.