Spielberg: AI Should Enhance Filmmaking, Not Replace Creators
Steven Spielberg said he opposes using artificial intelligence to replace creative professionals, positioning himself firmly in an ongoing Hollywood debate over the technology's limits. "I am not for AI that replaces a creative individual," the Oscar-winning director said at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin this week.
Spielberg has not used AI in any of his films. He described his writers' rooms as evidence of his approach: "All the seats are occupied. There's not an empty chair with a laptop in front of it."
Studios and Unions Still Setting Boundaries
Hollywood has not reached consensus on AI's role in production. Netflix said last month that the technology should "empower storytellers, not replace them." SAG-AFTRA, the actors union, condemned ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 AI video model in February over infringement concerns.
These positions reflect broader friction across the industry as studios, unions, and creators work out where AI fits in their workflows.
Spielberg's Current Projects Center on Human Collaboration
Spielberg's upcoming work reflects his collaborative philosophy. His sci-fi thriller "Disclosure Day" arrives June 12 with writer David Koepp, cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, and composer John Williams-the same team he has worked with across multiple projects.
He is also an executive producer on Apple TV+'s "Cape Fear," debuting June 5. "I love doing that in collaboration with crew, but also especially with actors," Spielberg said at SXSW.
For creatives navigating AI in their own work, the distinction Spielberg draws matters: tools can refine scripts and workflows without displacing the people making creative decisions. Learn more about AI for creatives and how generative video fits into modern production pipelines.
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