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Seth Rogen says writers who rely on AI "shouldn't be a writer" while promoting hand-drawn animated film Tangles
Seth Rogen says writers who use AI to avoid the hard work "shouldn't be a writer." His animated film Tangles, which got a seven-minute standing ovation at Cannes, used no AI-every frame is hand-drawn.
Seth Rogen: AI Writers Shouldn't Be Writers
Seth Rogen doesn't think AI belongs in the writer's room. While promoting the animated film Tangles, the actor and producer criticized the growing push to use AI for creative work, calling the output "stupid dog shit" and arguing that writers who rely on AI to avoid the hard work should find a different career.
Speaking with Brut, Rogen said he sees no value in AI-generated content. "Every time I see a video on Instagram that's like, 'Hollywood is cooked,' what follows is the most stupid dog shit I've ever seen in my life," he said.
His strongest criticism targeted writers considering AI tools. Rogen views the writing process itself-struggling with ideas, pushing through difficult sections, doing the actual work-as the core of being a writer.
"If your instinct is to use AI and not go through that process, you shouldn't be a writer. Because you're not writing. Go do something else," Rogen said. "If you don't want to go through the process, you shouldn't be a writer. The idea of a tool that makes me write less is not appealing to me, because I like writing."
For Rogen, creativity requires the human element. Removing the struggle removes the purpose.
No AI in Tangles
Rogen made clear that Tangles, directed by Leah Nelson, used no AI in production. The film is hand-drawn animation, with every frame created by human animators.
"Not at all. It's hand-drawn animation. Every frame has a human touch to it, which is great," Rogen said when asked about AI involvement.
The film centers on a young woman dealing with her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis. Rogen and his wife Lauren Miller Rogen co-founded Hilarity for Charity, a nonprofit focused on Alzheimer's awareness, inspired by Lauren's experience with her mother's diagnosis.
The film premiered at Cannes and received a seven-minute standing ovation.
Rogen's position reflects a broader tension in Hollywood. As studios and tech companies push AI adoption, some creators argue the technology undermines the craft itself. For writers considering AI for Writers tools, Rogen's message is direct: if you're using them to skip the hard parts, reconsider whether writing is the right work for you.