Ben Affleck is not buying into the widespread panic about artificial intelligence taking over Hollywood. The well-known actor and director shared his frank views during a recent podcast appearance. He made it clear that while AI might bring changes to how films are made, it will not be replacing human storytellers in the near future.
Affleck's blunt assessment of AI writing
Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience with his friend Matt Damon, Affleck did not hold back. He described current AI writing capabilities in rather colorful terms. According to him, the output from tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini is simply not up to par for creating meaningful screenplays.
"By its nature, it goes to the mean, to the average," Affleck explained during the conversation. He acknowledged that these technologies could potentially assist writers. They might help with brainstorming plot ideas or overcoming creative blocks. However, when it comes to generating truly compelling and original scripts, he remains deeply skeptical.
"I actually don't think it's very likely that it's going to be able to write anything meaningful," Affleck stated plainly. His comments reflect a growing debate within the entertainment industry about the role of advanced algorithms in creative processes.
AI as a practical tool for filmmakers
Affleck sees artificial intelligence more as a helpful assistant rather than a replacement for human talent. He pointed out specific areas where the technology could prove valuable. For instance, AI might handle expensive and labor-intensive aspects of film production.
Imagine creating realistic visual effects without the need to travel to remote locations. "We can shoot the scene here in our parkas but make it appear very realistically as if we're in the North Pole," he noted. This approach could save significant amounts of money and time. It would allow production crews to focus more on performance and storytelling rather than logistical challenges.
Pushing back against Silicon Valley hype
The Live by Night director also addressed what he perceives as excessive promotion from tech companies. He suggested that some firms might be overstating AI's revolutionary potential. This hype could serve to justify massive investments in data centers and infrastructure.
Affleck argued that the technology might actually be reaching a plateau in its development. He pointed to specific examples to support his view. For instance, he mentioned that ChatGPT-5 shows only about a twenty-five percent improvement over its predecessor. Yet it reportedly consumes four times more electricity and data resources.
The irreplaceable role of human creativity
Affleck drew a clear distinction between technical craft and genuine art during his comments. He elaborated on this point further during last year's CNBC Delivering Alpha summit. "AI can write you excellent imitative verse that sounds Elizabethan. It cannot write you Shakespeare," he told the audience.
Large language models work by combining and rehashing existing material. They do not create anything fundamentally new or groundbreaking. Affleck summed up the difference beautifully: "Craftsman is knowing how to work. Art is knowing when to stop."
While he recognizes that unions and guilds will need to establish guidelines to protect actors' likenesses, Affleck believes existing laws already address most concerns. He maintains that AI will always depend on human artistic judgment. This is especially true as audiences increasingly value authentic, human-made content over algorithm-generated alternatives.
The conversation around AI in Hollywood continues to evolve. Affleck's perspective adds an important voice to the discussion. It emphasizes that technology should enhance human creativity rather than attempt to replace it entirely.
