Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are currently promoting their new Netflix film The Rip. Their recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Podcast has sparked discussions about the role of AI in film production.
During the podcast, they addressed concerns about how the best streaming services might be 'dumbing down' movies for doomscrollers and background viewers. The duo shared their thoughts on AI's potential to enhance human creativity in filmmaking.
Affleck was candid, stating that generative AI platforms like ChatGPT cannot replicate the artistic nuance of human-created works. He remarked, “If you try to get ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to write something, it’s really poor, as it tends to average out rather than create something unique.”
Affleck continued, “I just can’t stand to see what it even writes,” reinforcing his stance. Matt Damon then chimed in, echoing similar sentiments.
Beyond screenwriting, generative AI is also being utilized for facial modifications in film, allowing for the addition of actors to scenes without their physical presence. Damon criticized this technology, emphasizing that no AI can replicate the genuine emotional expressions of a human actor.
He recounted a scene from Benny Safdie’s latest film The Smashing Machine, where he was deeply moved by Dwayne Johnson’s performance, attributing it to Johnson's authentic emotional experience. “AI can understand Dwayne’s face and manipulate it, but no AI can replicate that depth,” Damon asserted.
While both actors expressed skepticism about AI's ability to produce meaningful scripts or performances, Affleck did not dismiss its potential entirely. He suggested that AI could serve as a useful tool in filmmaking, akin to CGI and other visual effects technologies.
Affleck explained, “The guilds will manage this, ensuring that if AI can genuinely assist us, it will be utilized.” He illustrated this by discussing how AI could help create realistic settings without the need for extensive travel, saving both time and resources.
He believes that while AI may not write full scripts, it could assist in generating ideas during the creative process, especially when writers face challenges in building context.
As a writer and movie enthusiast, I appreciate the collaborative effort behind every film, where a strong script and compelling performances stem from talented individuals. While the integration of AI in filmmaking was inevitable, I worry that Affleck may be underestimating its future impact.