AI-generated shows could replace lost DVD revenue, Ben Affleck says

Final week, actor and director Ben Affleck shared his views on AI’s position in filmmaking in the course of the 2024 CNBC Delivering Alpha investor summit, arguing that AI fashions will remodel visible results however will not exchange inventive filmmaking anytime quickly. A video clip of Affleck’s opinion started circulating widely on social media not lengthy after.

“Didn’t anticipate Ben Affleck to have essentially the most articulate and life like rationalization the place video fashions and Hollywood goes,” wrote one X consumer.

Within the clip, Affleck spoke of present AI fashions’ talents as imitators and conceptual translators—mimics which might be sometimes higher at translating one style into another as an alternative of originating deeply inventive materials.

“AI can write wonderful imitative verse, but it surely can’t write Shakespeare,” Affleck informed CNBC’s David Faber. “The perform of getting two, three, or 4 actors in a room and the style to discern and assemble that completely eludes AI’s functionality.”

Affleck sees AI fashions as “craftsmen” fairly than artists (though some would possibly discover the time period “craftsman” in his analogy considerably imprecise). He defined that whereas AI can be taught via imitation—like a craftsman learning furniture-making strategies—it lacks the inventive judgment that defines artistry. “Craftsman is understanding the way to work. Artwork is understanding when to cease,” he mentioned.

“It is not going to exchange human beings making movies,” Affleck acknowledged. As a substitute, he sees AI taking up “the extra laborious, much less inventive and extra expensive features of filmmaking,” which may decrease limitations to entry and make it simpler for rising filmmakers to create motion pictures like Good Will Looking.

Movies will develop into dramatically cheaper to make

Whereas it could appear on its floor like Affleck was attacking generative AI capabilities within the tech trade, he additionally didn’t deny the influence it could have on filmmaking. For instance, he predicted that AI would cut back prices and pace up manufacturing schedules, doubtlessly permitting reveals like HBO’s Home of the Dragon to launch two seasons in the identical interval because it takes to make one.