If that were true, we'd see the evidence in Hollywood. But nobody knows how to make a realistic fully-simulated video. The reason everyone believes that it's just around the corner is because those academics talk with authority on the topic, and the still frames look pretty convincing. But still frames are completely different from video -- the human visual system processes video differently.

I've written about this before:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13892671

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12461883

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13893305

The only technique that we know produces realistic video is if you mix actual, real footage with simulated content. That's very effective, but it's unsatisfying for obvious reasons. I think it hints at a way toward fully simulated realistic video, though.