Ben Affleck Blasts AI Hype in Film Industry Row
Ben Affleck has sparked debate by rubbishing claims that artificial intelligence poses a serious threat to the film industry. His candid remarks have set tongues wagging across Hollywood.
Ben Affleck has never been one to mince his words, and his latest comments on artificial intelligence in the film world are no exception. Appearing on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, Affleck took a rather dim view of the notion that AI could spell doom for Hollywood. The actor, whose remarks have since made the rounds online, was quick to dismiss the idea that artificial intelligence is on the verge of upending the industry.
“
What I see is that if, for example, you try to get Chat GPT or Claude or Gemini to write you something, it’s really shitty,
” he remarked, not pulling any punches. “
And it’s shitty because, by its nature, it goes to the mean, to the average, and it’s not reliable.
”
Questioning the AI Narrative
Affleck’s scepticism didn’t stop there. He challenged the prevailing narrative that AI could soon be churning out entire films or penning scripts with any real depth. “
I actually don’t think it’s going to be able to write anything meaningful, and in particular, that it’s going to be making movies from whole cloth, like Tilly Norwood – that’s bullshit.
”
The mention of Tilly Norwood, the first fully AI-generated actor to sign with an agency, was a pointed reference. The move, announced at the Zurich Film Festival by Eline Van der Velden of Particle 6 Productions, caused quite a stir last year, with many in the industry voicing concern over the implications for human performers.
Technology’s Limits and Industry Fears
Affleck, however, remains unconvinced by the alarm bells. He argued that the technology is not advancing as dramatically as some would have the public believe. In his view, AI is more likely to become a tool for filmmakers rather than a force that will “decimate” the profession. He suggested that much of the anxiety surrounding AI is being fuelled by companies eager to boost their own future valuations.
“
Chat GPT 5 is only about 25 per cent better than Chat GPT 4, and costs about four times as much in the way of electricity and data.
” Affleck pointed out, highlighting the diminishing returns as the technology develops. He noted that, for the most part, people are using these platforms for fairly mundane tasks, not for creating the next cinematic masterpiece.
Human Touch Remains Central
Despite the noise, Affleck is adamant that the heart of filmmaking will always be human. “
Hollywood is always going to fundamentally rely on the human, artistic aspects
,” he insisted, suggesting that the creative spark can’t be replicated by algorithms alone.
His comments come at a time when other actors are taking a different approach. Matthew McConaughey, for instance, has recently trademarked his signature phrase “Alright, alright, alright” to guard against AI deepfakes, even as he invests in a company cloning actors’ voices for a digital marketplace. The debate over AI’s place in the industry is far from settled, but Affleck’s forthright stance has certainly added fuel to the fire.