In a recent interview with CTV News, renowned filmmaker James Cameron expressed his skepticism about using artificial intelligence for film scriptwriting, stating that AI lacks the human touch required to create emotionally resonant stories. According to the Oscar winner, true storytelling can only be provided by humanity’s emotional depth and empathy.

I just don’t personally believe that a disembodied mind that’s just regurgitating what other embodied minds have said…can ever create something that will move an audience. You have to be human to write that. I don’t know anyone that’s even thinking about having AI write a screenplay

While AI screenwriters winning Oscars may seem far-fetched, Cameron is deeply troubled by the broader implications of AI technology, raising concerns about the weaponization of AI and its potential risks.

You got to follow the money. Who’s building these things? They’re either building it to dominate marketing shares, so you’re teaching it greed, or you’re building it for defensive purposes, so you’re teaching it paranoia. I think the weaponization of AI is the biggest danger

Drawing parallels to his 1984 film The Terminator, Cameron fears the possibility of an AI arms race leading to uncontrollable autonomous combat. He cautions against developing AI for commercial dominance or military aggression, as such motives could have dire consequences for humanity.

I think that we will get into the equivalent of a nuclear arms race with AI, and if we don’t build it, the other guys are for sure going to build it, and so then it’ll escalate…You could imagine an AI in a combat theatre, the whole thing just being fought by the computers at a speed humans can no longer intercede, and you have no ability to deescalate 

In light of AI’s rapid advancement, Cameron’s warnings serve as a call for responsible AI development and ethical considerations. He urges society to ponder on the motivations behind AI creation and advocates for a more thoughtful approach to harnessing its potential.

While the film industry may not currently seek AI-generated screenplays, Cameron’s concerns should remind us to tread cautiously into an AI-dominated future. As AI progresses, ongoing discussions about its societal impact and ethical implications become paramount.