Vince Gilligan Critiques Artificial Intelligence
Vince Gilligan, known for his work on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has recently expressed his disdain for artificial intelligence in an interview, labeling it a “plagiarism machine” and quite frankly, “shit.”
Gilligan has maintained an impressive reputation in Hollywood, managing to stay clean amidst huge successes. He spoke about his new sci-fi thriller, Pluribus, during an interview where his opinions on AI were quite clear.
Interestingly, while Pluribus doesn’t focus on AI’s troubling impact on society, a notable credit line reads: “This show was created by humans,” hinting at his views on the subject.
“I hate AI,” Gilligan shared. He referred to it as an expensive and energy-draining plagiarism machine, questioning its overall value. “It’s likely that this is all nonsense. This is just a bunch of wealthy individuals trying to become the first trillionaire, selling bags of steam,” he added.
He doesn’t fear AI taking over from human artists, asserting, “My toaster isn’t going to cook like a top chef just because it heats a pizza.” Yet, he carries concerns about AI reaching a level of sentience, suggesting it could reopen discussions about slavery, with Silicon Valley trying to profit off such beings.
“If that happens, we’ll have to revisit the whole slavery debate,” he explained. “These billionaires might want to cash in on something sentient. Would it then be classified as a slave? At that point, you’ve got a real sentient being, and those in Silicon Valley will likely seek to exploit it.”
When it comes to AI-driven entertainment, he was even more critical. “Do you want to eat bad food? You might survive on it, but it’s not ideal. AI-generated content will likely dilute quality, becoming an unending stream of drivel,” he remarked.
Indeed, Hollywood faces a growing concern regarding AI’s influence. The industry has reportedly lost around 200,000 jobs recently, and there’s a pervasive silence from studios, possibly due to fear of the changes on the horizon.
The recent launch of OpenAI’s tool, Sora 2, has ignited further debate, pushing studios to demand stricter measures to protect copyright material in AI-generated content.
Many in the industry share Gilligan’s anxieties. Actor Nicolas Cage has voiced his fears that studios could use AI to replicate his performances posthumously, while Sean Penn has criticized AI’s potential to create “human obscenity.”
Screenwriter Ron Niswaner has also warned that AI might generate soulless content that strips away the emotional depth that artists and audiences crave.
Other notable filmmakers have joined the conversation. James Cameron cautioned that AI could result in uncontrollable wars led by algorithms, while Ridley Scott labeled AI a “technological hydrogen bomb.” Christopher Nolan has suggested we may reach an “Oppenheimer moment” with AI, emphasizing the need for accountability in its development.
In a contrast to these concerns, Ashton Kutcher has spoken positively about AI, suggesting it could democratize the film industry by making it easier for anyone to create compelling content. Similarly, Reese Witherspoon has encouraged Hollywood to embrace AI, insisting that there’s no need for fear.
