Renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg expressed opposition to the use of AI technology in creative projects during an interview at the SXSW conference in Austin on Friday. When asked about AI’s role in filmmaking, Spielberg stated, “I’ve never used AI on any of my films yet,” which was met with cheers and applause from the audience.
Spielberg, known for classics like “Jaws,” “E.T.,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” is not entirely against technology. His films often explore tech-infused worlds, both positively and negatively, as seen in “Minority Report,” “Ready Player One,” and “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.”
At SXSW 2026, Spielberg remarked he was supportive of AI “in many disciplines,” but not in his writers’ rooms, even in TV, indicating that he does not delegate creativity to machines.
“I am not for AI if it replaces a creative individual,” he stated.
For Spielberg, AI assistance may be unnecessary. However, AI startups target indie filmmakers with limited resources. Major streaming services are also adopting AI. Amazon announced it is testing AI tools for film and TV production, and Netflix recently acquired Ben Affleck’s AI filmmaking company for a reported $600 million.