This summer, The Sphere in Las Vegas is set to reveal an innovative AI-driven experience: The Wizard of Oz at Sphere. This ambitious venture is being brought to fruition with the collaboration of Google and cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies.
“The potential of generative AI, fused with Google’s robust infrastructure and expertise, is enabling us to accomplish something remarkable,” stated Jim Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment, in a comment to Mashable. “We required a partner capable of pushing limits alongside our teams at Sphere Studios and Magnopus, and Google was the sole entity prepared to tackle the challenge on the world’s highest resolution LED screen.”
Even if you’ve never stepped foot in Las Vegas, it’s likely you’ve seen The Sphere online. The venue often goes viral due to its enormous 580,000 square feet of LED screens that envelop the exterior. Inside, it accommodates nearly 17,600 attendees and boasts a wrap-around 16K resolution display—the highest of its kind.
While The Sphere has previously highlighted original movies crafted specifically for its distinctive format, this is the first instance of it showcasing a classic film: the 1939 cinematic jewel The Wizard of Oz. However, revamping a decades-old movie for the world’s most cutting-edge screen is no small undertaking.
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the process is exceptionally intricate. “Very, very, very big and very, very difficult,” commented Steven Hickson, Google’s Director for AI Foundation Research. For instance, certain scenes from the original film feature details as minute as “10 pixels” for a character’s nose—not nearly sufficient for a screen that offers over 170 million pixels.
To tackle this challenge, Sphere Studios partnered with Google DeepMind to assist in transforming the film via AI, crafting a novel type of immersive experience.
AI Upscaling and Its Artistic Implications
A significant application of AI in this project is the enhancement of the film’s resolution. AI upscaling not only enlarges images but also fills in absent details, improving clarity and sharpness. While this technique is generally endorsed within the industry, it can sometimes lead to awkward or inaccurate outcomes. For example, a popular AI-upscaled screenshot from an episode of I Love Lucy on Blu-ray presented some troubling visual artifacts.
Nonetheless, with Google’s DeepMind team and Warner Bros. Discovery—the rights holder of The Wizard of Oz—engaged, the likelihood of such issues seems limited. However, preliminary previews shared by the Wall Street Journal indicate that even Google’s AI efforts are not free from occasional visual inconsistencies.
Beyond Upscaling: Generative AI Reimagines the Frame
What genuinely distinguishes this project is its significant advancement beyond mere upscaling. Google utilized generative AI models from its Gemini family, such as Veo 2 and Imagen 3, to reconstruct and broaden scenes. These models enhance backgrounds and incorporate characters that were not originally present in the frame, providing viewers with a wider, more immersive rendition of the film.
This method prompts discussions about artistic integrity. Filmmakers meticulously compose each shot to express a specific vision. By extending scenes and modifying the frame, generative AI risks undermining that original intent.
A recent viral instance exemplifies this issue. A user on X (formerly Twitter) shared AI-generated interpretations of scenes from director Andrei Tarkovsky’s films, including one where a still shot was converted into a 360-degree camera movement. While some lauded the technical feat, others, like user The Kino Corner, critiqued it for disregarding the filmmaker’s vision. “If the camera was supposed to move, then Tarkovsky would have had the camera move,” read the post—garnering over 305,000 likes.
The Broader Debate Over AI in Film
Generative AI continues to spark debate within the film and art communities. Projects such as The Brutalist and Late Night with the Devil have encountered criticism for their utilization of AI-generated visuals. Detractors argue that AI can dilute the human creativity intrinsic to filmmaking.
However, The Wizard of Oz at Sphere may sidestep much of this contention. It’s a unique event, crafted specifically for a particular venue, and not meant for broad theatrical release or streaming. This limited scope could render it more acceptable to purists.
Still, the triumph of this project could pave the way for wider acceptance of AI in filmmaking. Should audiences react favorably, studios might be more willing to investigate similar AI-driven enhancements in future endeavors.
The Wizard of Oz at Sphere is set to debut on August 28, 2025, and all attention—whether in Las Vegas or from afar—will be on this daring experiment in cinematic progression.