# AI in Filmmaking: Ben Affleck’s Insights on the Future of Creativity and Expenses
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is swiftly reshaping various sectors worldwide, and the film industry in Hollywood is no different. From writing scripts to crafting visual effects, AI is asserting its influence in filmmaking. Nonetheless, a critical question persists: Can AI supplant human creativity in the arts? Actor and director Ben Affleck believes the answer is no—at least not in the near future.
At the 2024 CNBC **Delivering Alpha** investor summit, Affleck expressed his views on AI’s involvement in the future of filmmaking. While he recognized that AI will transform certain production elements, he staunchly asserts that human creativity and artistry will remain unmatched. His remarks, which quickly resonated across social media, provide a thoughtful perspective on how AI could impact the film sector in the years ahead.
## AI as an Instrument, Not a Substitute
Affleck’s primary contention is that while powerful, AI serves more as a tool for efficiency rather than as a substitute for human creativity. He referred to AI models as “imitators” and “conceptual translators” that are skilled at replicating styles and adapting existing ideas into fresh formats. However, he underlined that AI is devoid of the capacity to generate genuinely imaginative material.
“AI can produce remarkable imitative poetry, but it cannot compose Shakespeare,” Affleck remarked during the summit. He elaborated that the creative journey—such as the vibrant collaboration between actors and directors—necessitates a level of taste and discernment that AI cannot mimic. “The synergy of having two, three, or four actors in a space and the taste to discern and craft that entirely escapes AI’s ability,” he added.
Affleck compared AI to a “craftsman” instead of an artist. While AI can acquire knowledge through imitation and practice, much like a craftsman mastering skills, it lacks the creative insight to determine when to pause or how to innovate. “Craftsmanship is understanding how to execute a task. Art is recognizing when to halt,” he stated, emphasizing the difference between technical proficiency and artistic instinct.
## Cutting Costs and Making Filmmaking Accessible
While Affleck harbors doubts about AI’s ability to supplant human creativity, he holds a positive outlook on its potential to diminish costs and enhance production efficiency. He forecasts that AI will assume control of “the more tedious, less imaginative, and more expensive facets of filmmaking,” such as visual effects, which could substantially lower entry barriers for aspiring filmmakers.
“It’s not going to substitute for human beings making films,” Affleck confirmed, but it will facilitate greater accessibility in filmmaking. He noted that AI could empower new filmmakers to produce movies with reduced budgets, akin to how he and Matt Damon created their acclaimed film, *Good Will Hunting*.
Affleck also proposed that AI might significantly trim production timelines. For example, he conjectured that series like HBO’s *House of the Dragon* could possibly release two seasons in the time it currently takes to produce one, courtesy of AI-driven efficiencies.
## The Visual Effects Domain: A Landscape in Change
One sector where Affleck perceives considerable disruption is the visual effects (VFX) industry. He cautioned that VFX firms could encounter substantial challenges as AI technologies advance and become capable of automating intricate tasks. “I wouldn’t want to be in the visual effects sector. They’re facing difficulties,” he stated.
AI video generators, such as those created by companies like Runway, are already simplifying the integration of AI-generated effects into existing footage. Though these tools are still developing and may require enhancements in consistency and precision, their ability to cut costs and accelerate post-production workflows is unmistakable.
## AI-Generated Content: A Fresh Revenue Stream?
In addition to cost reductions, Affleck also perceives AI as a possible new revenue avenue for studios. He remarked that the surge of streaming platforms has drastically diminished DVD sales, which once represented a significant income source for the film industry. AI-generated content, he proposed, could help bridge that gap.
Affleck envisioned a future where viewers might pay to create customized episodes of their favorite series utilizing AI, though he admitted such content could be “quirky and somewhat unusual.” He also imagined a scenario in which studios could issue licenses to fans, allowing them to make AI-generated TikTok videos or other materials featuring popular character likenesses, similar to the way superhero costumes are marketed today.
While this concept might appear improbable, it resonates with the increasing trend of tailored, on-demand content in today’s digital landscape. AI could allow fans to interact with their beloved franchises in innovative and engaging ways, fostering a novel form of entertainment that merges user-generated content with professional filmmaking.
## The Boundaries of AI in Filmmaking
Regardless of the possibilities for AI to transform certain filmmaking elements, Affleck firmly believes that human creativity will persist as a vital component of the industry. He clarified that AI models function by “cross-pollinating things that
