Ben Affleck Dismisses AI Fears as 'Propaganda,' Calls Tech an 'Additive' Tool for Filmmakers
The actor and director argues that artificial intelligence is a form of computing that enhances filmmaking, not a threat to the industry.
Ben Affleck is pushing back against what he describes as "propaganda" opposing artificial intelligence in Hollywood, advocating instead for the technology as a beneficial tool for filmmakers. Affleck, who recently saw his AI startup InterPositive acquired by Netflix for $587 million, spoke at the Bloomberg Screentime summit.
Addressing criticism that Netflix acquired his company to use AI for "despicable things" with Affleck providing "cover," the actor stated that the streamer is "super judicious" and needs to maintain relationships with creators. He asserted that Netflix is not in a position to alienate artists.
Affleck compared the current anxieties around AI to past technological advancements in the film and television industry. "What I find is that filmmakers and people — once they sit with it and have a sense of control and a sense of understanding what's happening, and it moves from this nebulous abstract terrifying alien... all this propaganda," he said. He views AI as "another form of computing that does tools and is a technological advancement."
He revealed that he utilized AI for "lots of things" in his upcoming Netflix film "Animals," but declined to offer specific examples, likening it to a magician revealing their tricks. Affleck also dismissed fears of AI leading to a "Skynet" scenario or taking over the business, referencing the fictional AI antagonist from the "Terminator" franchise. "I don't worry about Skynet and I don't think that it's going to take over this business in any meaningful way. I think it's going to be additive," he stated.
Instead of fearing job displacement, Affleck expressed concern about broader societal issues like academic inflation and "learned helplessness," emphasizing the need for responsible use of AI. He believes that familiarity and understanding will demystify the technology. "It needs to be incorporated. Like a lot of technologies, it requires getting comfortable and getting familiar with. And then immediately it's knowable. You see all the ways in which it doesn't work, all the failures. The sort of dumb nature of it in a lot of ways, and it becomes a knowable thing," he explained.