SLAPSHOT Launches Autopilot – The First Fully Autonomous
AI Rotoscoping System
SLAPSHOT has launched Autopilot, the first fully autonomous AI system designed to rotoscope every layer in a shot, fully automatically. Autopilot is poised to supercharge post-production pipelines and revolutionize the VFX industry.
Built for production-scale workflows, Autopilot marks the next major step in SLAPSHOT’s mission to remove bottlenecks from post-production by automating its most time-consuming tasks with an AI Roto tool capable of processing hundreds of shots per day. Autopilot is available both through the platform and via enterprise API for custom data environments and pipeline integrations.
The launch of Autopilot follows SLAPSHOT’s suite of AI-powered post-production software launched last year – shifting industry attitudes to embrace a new fully automated mode of working. Whilst SLAPSHOT’s existing rotoscoping tools allow artists to precisely select and refine layers interactively, the NEW Autopilot is designed to run independently, enabling teams to batch hundreds of shots in just a few clicks.
Cutting edge AI drives the platform to be able to deliver this never-before-seen tech – SLAPSHOT Co Founder & CEO Jon Mason said: “Autopilot takes a shot as input, rotoscoping those layers across the full duration of the shot, and exporting the results as a fully organised cryptomatte. It is able to track objects consistently over time, and handles complex motion, occlusion, and lighting changes with ease.”
As well as cutting costs, for VFX vendors and facilities, studio side VFX teams, supervisors and filmmakers alike, Autopilot enables faster starts to the post-production process and guarantees greater flexibility to explore wider and more detailed creative options. Autopilot is being used across a wide range of stages in the production process, from post-vis and early editorial through to colour grading and, in the right situations, final rotoscoping.
“Autopilot is an exciting addition to our AI VFX toolkit, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the industry.” CEO Jon Mason begins: “Mounting pressure due to tighter budgets, faster delivery timelines, growing content volumes and smaller teams mean studios face the challenge of delivering quality visuals at a fraction of the cost / delivery time. We are dedicated to developing tools that allow the creative process to remain unhindered”
The system has already been in early access with select studios and vendors and is currently being used on large-scale productions. According to early users, teams typically see days or weeks saved at the start of post-production, alongside a significant reduction in manual roto hours and faster iteration throughout the pipeline.
SLAPSHOT’s Jon Mason explains: “Autopilot’s unmanned AI roto pass across an entire project allows productions to iterate faster, explore more versions, and ultimately tell better stories. Autopilot represents a major expansion of what the technology can do.
On how the game-changing tech will impact the future of the industry, Mason adds: “It shifts roto from a manual task to an automated first step. Without Autopilot, every time you need roto, you’re starting from scratch. With Autopilot, roto is already there when you need it. Nothing has ever been done like it.”
Autopilot follows the launch of SLAPSHOT’s revolutionary AI Camera Tracking tool, extending the platform’s focus on automating high-impact post-production tasks that traditionally consume significant artist time. Together, the releases reflect SLAPSHOT’s continued move toward production-ready AI tools designed to remove friction across real-world VFX workflows.
SLAPSHOT Autopilot: Roto Everything Automatically. Autopilot is available now at slapshot.ai, with a number of frames included in every paid SLAPSHOT subscription. Additional frames are billed at $0.25 per frame.
Available both through the SLAPSHOT platform and via enterprise API for custom data environments and pipeline integrations, start your free trial here.