“Avatar” sequels may appear to be the type of grand Hollywood endeavors that could greatly gain from generative AI tools. The opulent realm of Pandora and the Na’vi native inhabitants necessitate sophisticated special effects that AI technology could assist with. However, the highly celebrated director, who depends on innovative visual effects for his ambitious sci-fi narratives, firmly opposes substituting traditional filmmaking with AI. He also expresses the same concerns as others that AI might ultimately trigger disastrous outcomes, akin to what transpires in another series Cameron is well-known for, the “Terminator” saga, where a self-aware AI turns against humanity.
In a discussion with CTV News, Cameron responded to a query about AI with a “Terminator” humor. “I cautioned you all in 1984, and you ignored me,” he jested, before becoming more earnest. The director mentioned that it is essential to heed the motivations of those creating advanced AI technologies, along with the financial aspects. They are pursuing it for market dominance, thus they are “instilling greed” into the AI, or alternatively, they are doing it for military reasons, in which case they are programming it with “paranoia.”
“I believe that the militarization of AI poses the greatest threat,” he stated. “I foresee us entering a scenario similar to a nuclear arms race with AI, and if we don’t develop it, the others certainly will, leading to an escalation,” Cameron remarked. “You could picture an AI operating in a war zone, with the entire conflict being conducted by computers at a pace that humans can no longer manage, and there’s no means to de-escalate.” Cameron made these statements in July 2023, during a period when generative AI applications like ChatGPT were still emerging. ChatGPT had surged to popularity in late November 2022, just a few months prior.