"I don't love AI is where there's an empty chair at a writer's table...": Steven Spielberg calls out use of artificial intelligence in films
Los Angeles, May 28
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has called out the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking, adding that he doesn't want it to take over the creative process in Hollywood.
During his recent appearance on Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson's 'IMO' podcast, Spielberg shared, "Where I don't love AI is where it takes a position or there's an empty chair at a writer's table. I'm not willing to substitute, you know, because I don't really believe in sentience. I don't believe there is any substitute for the soul. I don't think that is an algorithm that's inventible... A computer that thinks it feels more than we feel is anathema to the way I was raised and how I'll practice my own trade of producing and directing in the future."
The 'Jaws' director noted how AI can help "save us a lot of legwork" by performing a few tasks like scouting locations.
"Don't tell me how to write my dialogue for this character. Don't tell me where the camera has to go. And also don't tell me what the set should look like, unless AI is simply a tool in a large tool chest of the production designer. Use AI as a tool, but do not use AI as the final word on anything creative. That's where I draw the line," he added.
Steven Spielberg is among the rare Hollywood figures to have spoken out against the use of AI in movies. Earlier in December 2025, Leonardo DiCaprio emphasised that anything created by AI can't be "authentically" considered art.
"I think anything that is going to be authentically thought of as art has to come from the human being. Otherwise -- haven't you heard these songs that are mashups that are just absolutely brilliant and you go, 'Oh my God, this is Michael Jackson doing the Weeknd,' or 'This is funk from the A Tribe Called Quest song "Bonita Applebum," done in, you know, a sort of Al Green soul-song voice, and it's brilliant.' And you go, 'Cool.' But then it gets its 15 minutes of fame and it just dissipates into the ether of other internet junk. There's no anchoring to it. There's no humanity to it, as brilliant as it is," the actor said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I get his point about soul and authenticity, but isn't AI just another tool like CGI was? Directors once hated CGI too, now it's everywhere. Why not let AI handle boring stuff like location scouting so writers can focus on actual storytelling? Seems like a balanced approach to me.
As an AI engineer working in Bangalore, I respectfully disagree with Spielberg here. AI isn't trying to replace human creativity, it's augmenting it. The algorithms I build learn from human art, they don't create from nothing. But I do agree we need ethical boundaries - no replacing writers or artists completely. Balance is key. 🤔
What DiCaprio said about AI art having "no anchoring" really hit home. You can't replicate the lived experience of a filmmaker who grew up in a particular culture, faced real struggles, and pours that into their work. That's why our Indian cinema resonates - it comes from real people with real stories. No algorithm can match that.
Guys, can we talk about the elephant in the room? While Hollywood debates this, Bollywood is already using AI for VFX, script analysis, and even casting suggestions. I've seen indie filmmakers use ChatGPT to draft dialogues. The genie is out of the bottle. Instead of fighting it, why not teach our young filmmakers how to use AI responsibly?
The most concerning part is when Spielberg says AI shouldn't be "the final word on anything creative." That's exactly what's happening in ad agencies and OTT platforms here - algorithms dictating what scripts get greenlit based on trending data. Human judgment is being sidelined
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.