The debate over artificial intelligence is no longer a question of the future within the film industry, but rather a conflict with the creative paradigm of the present itself. So much so that the development of this technology has occupied one of the central themes of the last two major Hollywood strikes; that of WGA (writers’ union) and the SAG-AFTRA (the two most important unions of performing artists on the scene. With the end of said pickets, some agreements were reached regarding creativity and the use of the digital tool itself, while in the United States They already legislate on intellectual property of these creations, thus avoiding that personalities like Tom Hanks or Scarlett Johansson are obliged, for example, to denounce companies that use their voice for commercial purposes and without any authorization. Now, the last one to be added to this Rejecting AI in favor of art was the director Guillermo del Toro.
It’s no surprise that someone like the Mexican is quite opposed to this tool, especially considering the director’s love of Pan’s Labyrinth professe practical special effects and the know-how in the realization of his work. To do this, you just need to take a brief look at his latest version of Pinocchio. Nor is it the first time that del Toro has spoken out against the explosion of artificial creation processes, since a year ago he already stated that he was not excessively worried by artificial intelligence and yes by “natural stupidity”. But today, the famous director was much more energetic than usual in his defense of art, convinced that it will be impossible for AI to create humanity. be excited with his creations.
AI and authentic emotion
Almost every week we hear new news about the possibilities of AI. Future predictions that seem unrealizable at the moment and that ultimately lead to uses that remain more out of superfluous curiosity than in the advancement of entertainment and the artistic development of cinema or other arts. In addition to causing moral problems, such as the fact that “digitally resurrect” to an interpreter. A problem that Disney is already facing, eight years after bringing Peter Cushing back to its Star Wars universe in RogueOne.
Guillermo del Toro’s opinion comes at a time when streaming platforms are expanding their artificial intelligence departments and the algorithm seems to decide in advance. what products will work for the public and which ones are not. However, if there is an authority in terms of creative diffusion capable of making the public dream through its narrative universes, it is that of the triple Oscar winner. For this reason and taking advantage of his time the conference organized by the BFI (British Film Institute), del Toro has expressed skepticism about AI in the arts.
“AI has shown that it can create semi-convincing screensavers. That’s basically it. The value of art is not how much it costs or how much effort it takes, but how much one would risk being in its presence,” the director explained. Then he alleged what artificial intelligence is not capable of doing at the moment, that is, exciting humanity: “How much would people pay for these screensavers? Will they make them cry because they lost a child? A mother? Because they wasted their youth? Certainly not!” For the author, technology is lacking the ability to connect with human emotions. And this is the key to understanding that it can never replace the uniqueness of a work done with passion and effort.
Guillermo del Toro’s next film
In 2025 we will be able to see the version of Frankenstein by Guillermo del Toro on Netflix. Although it is certainly a story that has a great relationship with its previous adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s story. In this review of Pinocchiodel Toro introduced the context of Italian fascism… so it would not be at all strange that in his particular vision of Mary Shelley’s novel, his modern Prometheus would have a kind of parallelism with controversial AI.
Frankenstein will have a luxury cast led by Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth and Christoph WaltzIn 2028, del Toro will return to animated film, co-directing The Buried Giant with Dennis Kelly. An adaptation of the famous work by Kazuo Ishiguro.
