June 15, 2026
The debate around using AI in Hollywood is still contentious, with actors and directors regularly weighing in with fiery takes for or against the technology as part of film and TV’s artistic future. But this weekend, one major actor made his stance clear not through words, but through actions. Yellowstone and Dutton Ranch star Cole Hauser is the narrator for the latest AI video from the UFC, a production that debuted on Sunday during the UFC Freedom 250 fight at the White House with President Trump in attendance.
“When we see American history from a distance, we see indelible images…” begins the video, which features AI-generated paintings of historic moments that are then animated. Included in the video animation are Washington Crossing the Delaware, Paul Revere warning of the British invasion, black American soldiers during WWII, the pioneering flight of Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali in the ring, the Battle of Iwo Jima, the 1969 moon landing, the aftermath of the 9/11 attack, and scenes of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. Interestingly, the topical choices of the video are all presented without apparent political bias and seem to diverge from the conservative right-wing perspective many have tagged to the UFC and its affiliation with the current administration.
As for the quality of the AI video, it doesn’t deliver the best images and animations possible with current AI models, but the message is delivered nonetheless. However, reactions from UFC fans in the comments on social media are riddled with criticism of what many are calling “AI slop.” The video doesn’t appear on Hauser’s IMDb page, so it’s possible that AI was also used to simulate Hauser’s voice (or the credit for his real performance simply hasn’t been listed yet).
This isn’t the first time the UFC has used AI to promote its event. Back in March, UFC president and CEO Dana White told the public to “Shut the fuck up, and watch the fights,” in response to critics asking about the company’s use of AI video. The company also used AI video to depict live-action shots of its fighters at the White House for a promo clip for the event back in April. It’s now clear that, among the giants of entertainment, the UFC is fully bought in on AI video. And since Paramount (the platform hosting the latest AI videos in partnership with the UFC) is now merged with Warner Bros., the question is: Will Warner Bros. become one of the first major studios to release a fully AI-generated film?
Cover image: Cole Hauser in a scene from ‘Yellowstone’ via Paramount/YouTube
