This week, Guillermo del Toro sat down with NPR News to discuss his upcoming film Frankenstein. Recently, there has been an influx of AI use in film. Academy Award–winning films such as Emilia Perez and The Brutalist have both used AI for voice cloning and visual effects. Del Toro shared his opinion on the matter, stating he would “rather die” than use generative artificial intelligence in his filmmaking. He said explicitly: “AI, particularly generative AI — I am not interested, nor will I ever be interested. I’m 61, and I hope to be able to remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak.”

Del Toro framed his reluctance not as fear of the technology itself, but as caution over human absurdity. He stated that his concern is not artificial intelligence itself, but its human origins — what he called “natural stupidity.” In other words, he emphasizes his belief that the true risk lies in human error and reckless ambition rather than in the machine.

His statements come in the context of his upcoming adaptation of Frankenstein, offering a unique telling of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. Del Toro identifies multiple parallels between the novel’s protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, and modern-day “tech bros” who constantly push for technological advancements without fully considering their negative effects. Del Toro deliberately underlines the arrogance of Victor Frankenstein to resemble that mindset: “He’s kind of blind, creating something without considering the consequences … I think we have to take a pause and consider where we’re going.”

Del Toro also declared that his films should showcase human-driven craftsmanship. According to him, every element of the production, including the final product of Frankenstein, had significant importance: “full-scale, handmade for humans by humans,” steering clear of digital shortcuts, AI, or simulation.

In summary, Guillermo del Toro’s stance on AI in the film world is clear. He sees generative AI as antithetical to his personal creation of artistry. His focus is deeply rooted in human emotion, imperfection, and authentic craft. For del Toro, the real monstrosity isn’t generative AI — it’s the human desire to control without understanding the cost.