Director James Cameron referred to AI actors as “terrifying” and remarked that what generative AI technology generates is merely “average.”

Cameron told CBS on Sunday morning. As the third Avatar film, titled Fire and Ash, approaches its release, he discussed the groundbreaking technology utilized in the film. He expressed admiration for the motion-capture performance, calling it “a celebration of the actor-director moment” but voiced his concerns about artificial intelligence. “Go to the other side of the spectrum.” [from motion capture] There is also a generative AI that allows for character creation. They can compose actors and build performances from scratch using text prompts. No, it’s not like that. That’s unsettling to me. It’s the antithesis of what we are not doing. ”

He added, “I don’t want a computer to perform tasks that I take pride in doing with actors. I have no desire to replace actors. I enjoy collaborating with them.”

Cameron, who is associated with UK-based company Stability AI, mentioned that the creative advantages of artificial intelligence are constrained. “Generative AI cannot create something new that hasn’t been seen before. The model can be trained on all previous works, but it lacks the ability to innovate beyond existing creations. Essentially, it yields a human art form born from a blend of experiences, which results in something average. What you miss is the distinctive lived experiences of individual playwrights and the unique traits of specific actors.”

“It also compels us to maintain high standards and to continue to think creatively. The act of witnessing an artist’s performance in real time becomes sacred.”