Says it will not exchange filmmakers, legal guidelines already defend actors’ names and likenesses
Ben Affleck. Photograph: file
Actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck has pushed again in opposition to rising fears about synthetic intelligence reshaping the movie business.
He argued that the know-how is extra more likely to function a sensible device than a substitute for human creativity.
Talking throughout an look on The Joe Rogan Expertise, Affleck stated he doesn’t imagine AI is at the moment able to writing significant scripts or creating full movies independently. He dismissed claims that AI-generated performers may quickly exchange actors, calling such predictions unrealistic at the moment stage of technological improvement.
Affleck addressed issues sparked by the rise of AI-generated digital performers, together with references to Tilly Norwood, a totally digital actress launched in 2025. Whereas acknowledging the controversy surrounding such tasks, he maintained that AI lacks the artistic depth required to duplicate human storytelling and efficiency.
As an alternative, Affleck steered AI shall be used equally to visible results know-how, serving to filmmakers streamline expensive or logistically troublesome facets of manufacturing. He cited examples corresponding to simulating distant or excessive places, which may scale back bills and enhance working situations with out eliminating jobs.
The actor additionally emphasised that protections for artists exist already, notably concerning the usage of a person’s identify, picture, and likeness. In line with Affleck, present legal guidelines, together with unions and guilds, present safeguards in opposition to unauthorized industrial use of an actor’s identification, whilst know-how advances.
Affleck added that public anxiousness round AI is commonly pushed by broader fears of technological disruption and amplified by firms looking for to justify massive investments in AI infrastructure. He argued that, traditionally, technological adoption tends to be gradual somewhat than sudden or catastrophic.
General, Affleck framed AI as an evolving device that would improve effectivity in filmmaking, somewhat than an existential menace to artistic professionals.
Affleck gained wider recognition when he and Matt Damon gained the Academy Award for Greatest Unique Screenplay for writing Good Will Searching (1997), which additionally they starred in. He established himself as a number one man in studio movies, together with the catastrophe movie Armageddon (1998), the motion crime thriller Reindeer Video games (2000), the warfare drama Pearl Harbor (2001), and the thriller The Sum of All Fears (2002). After a profession downturn, Affleck made a comeback by portraying George Reeves within the biopic Hollywoodland (2006), profitable the Volpi Cup for Greatest Actor.
His directorial debut, Gone Child Gone (2007), which he additionally co-wrote, was properly obtained. He then directed and starred within the crime drama The City (2010) and the political thriller Argo (2012), each of which had been important and industrial successes. For the latter, Affleck gained the BAFTA Award for Greatest Director, and the BAFTA and Academy Award for Greatest Image. Affleck then starred within the psychological thriller Gone Lady (2014) and performed the superhero Batman within the DC Prolonged Universe (2016-2023). He starred within the thriller The Accountant (2016) and the sports activities drama The Means Again (2020). Affleck had supporting roles within the dramas The Final Duel (2021), The Tender Bar (2021) and Air (2023), the third of which he additionally directed.
Affleck is the co-founder of the Japanese Congo Initiative, a grantmaking and advocacy-based nonprofit group. He’s a supporter of the Democratic Get together. Affleck and Damon are co-owners of the manufacturing firm Artists Fairness and had been additionally co-owners of Pearl Road Movies.
