Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg spoke out against the use of AI technology in creative endeavors during an interview at the SXSW conference in Austin. When asked about AI’s utility in filmmaking, Spielberg stated, “I’ve never used AI on any of my films yet,” a remark met with cheers and applause from the audience.
The director, producer, and screenwriter, famous for blockbusters like “Jaws,” “E.T.,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” clarified he is not necessarily anti-technology. His own films have often imagined worlds filled with advanced technology, as seen in “Minority Report,” “Ready Player One,” and “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.”
At the conference, Spielberg said he did not want to rant about AI, noting he supports the technology in many disciplines. However, he emphasized that in his writers’ rooms, even for television, there is no empty chair with a laptop taking the place of a human writer. He is not outsourcing creativity to a machine.
“I am not for AI if it replaces a creative individual,” he said.
While someone of Spielberg’s stature may not feel the need for an AI assist, the technology is being pitched to resource-constrained independent filmmakers. Meanwhile, major streaming platforms are also exploring AI. Amazon has said it is testing AI tools for film and television production. Netflix recently acquired Ben Affleck’s AI filmmaking company for a reported six hundred million dollars.