Oscar Contender: Humans in the Loop Wins Prestigious Sloan Grant, Set to Revolutionize AI Ethics

Image Source: Internet

In a major milestone, critically acclaimed film Humans in the Loop has secured the Film Independent Sloan Distribution Grant, paving the way for its Academy Awards consideration. Directed by Aranya Sahay, the film has recently made its US theatrical debut. The Sloan Distribution Grant, a collaboration between Film Independent and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, supports films that delve into science and technology themes or characters. This prestigious award aims to amplify the reach of these films through strategic release support. Notable past recipients include The Imitation Game, Hidden Figures, and Oppenheimer. At its core, Humans in the Loop tells the story of an Indigenous woman working at a rural data-annotation centre in India. The film thoughtfully explores the ethics and inequities of machine learning while placing a strong emphasis on empathy, lived experience, and cultural knowledge. Aranya Sahay, the writer-actor behind the film, expressed gratitude towards Film Independent and the Sloan Foundation, stating, “We're at a critical juncture with artificial intelligence, and it's essential for humanity to take responsibility for the kind of AI and future we're building. This grant allows us to bring this crucial conversation to the US, and we're grateful for the opportunity.” Mathivanan Rajendran, the film's producer, adds, “Through Humans in the Loop and our work at the Museum of Imagined Futures, we're creating a platform for technologists and creatives to reimagine how stories about technology are told.” With its US theatrical release and eligibility criteria met, Humans in the Loop has officially qualified as a contender for the 98th Academy Awards. The film will compete in the Best Original Screenplay category. The addition of Misaq Kazimi as Executive Producer will further support the film's US distribution strategy, amplified by the prestigious Sloan Grant.