Ben Affleck acknowledges AI’s role in filmmaking

Ben Affleck said he initially feared Hollywood was “finished” after seeing the potential of artificial intelligence, but has since embraced its use in filmmaking.

Ben Affleck said he initially feared Hollywood was “finished” after seeing the potential of artificial intelligence, but has since embraced its use in filmmaking.

The actor and filmmaker, who used AI in his upcoming film Animals, said he wanted the technology to assist filmmakers and other workers while increasing their creativity.

Affleck told Bloomberg, “At first, I kind of had a heart attack. I called Matt Damon, and I was like, dude, we have to do as many movies in the next few years because we’re finished.”

He then began exploring how AI could be used “in an ethical way” and help filmmakers work more efficiently.

Affleck said he ultimately decided to create his own dataset so that the technology could work “hand in glove” with artists.

“In order to obtain that information, I was concerned that most of the models being used had been trained on my peers’ — people I know — work, and I was uncomfortable with that,” he said.

“I thought, that’s not really a viable business.”

Affleck added that AI was not intended to “replace people” or “eliminate” them.

“I don’t believe that there will ever be ‘Just type it in and make a movie that people want to see.’

“But the whole effort behind it was to do something ethical, to do something that did not displace people, but that allowed people in this economy and this world to benefit from this technology.”

Affleck also said he had used an AI tool “for lots of things” in Animals.

Asked to elaborate, he said: “I’m a little bit hesitant to point out what they are or even talk about it because, like, in my business, we’re trying to foster the illusion of reality, right?”

Animals is set to stream on Netflix on Oct. 8.