Peter Jackson doesn't 'dislike' AI in film but thinks Andy Serkis won't win an Oscar because of it

Peter Jackson considers AI to be a tool just like any other special effect.

Key Points

• The Oscar-winning filmmaker said that as long as permission is gained to use an actor's likeness, there shouldn't be an "issue."

• Jackson noted that one drawback of AI is its impact on actors delivering motion-capture performances, like Andy Serkis as Gollum.

Peter Jacksonis sharing his complicated feelings about AI's role in Hollywood.

Jackson, who has been heralded as a VFX and filmmaking visionary for his work on theLord of the Ringstrilogy, was recently bestowed an Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. One day later, he taught a masterclass that saw him get candid about the use of AI-generated content in film.

The filmmaker shared that though the use of AI might very well "destroy the world" when it comes to cinema, he isn't wholly against it.

"I don’t dislike it at all," Jackson admitted, perVariety. "I mean, to me, it’s just a special effect. It’s no different from other special effects."

That said, Jackson did acknowledge that there are some dangers and drawbacks that come with combining artificial intelligence and filmmaking. The director argued that it is "absolutely critical" to protect actors from having their likeness stolen and used without their permission.

He continued, "If you’re doing an AI duplicate of somebody, likeIndiana Jonesor anyone else, as long as you’ve licensed the rights off the person who you’re showing, I don’t see the issue. It’s when people’s likenesses get stolen and usurped."

Jackson also pointed out that the ongoing debates have seriously impacted people's perceptions of motion-capture performances, like Andy Serkis' portrayal of Gollum in theLord of the Ringsfranchise.

Advertisement

"A lot of the current environment, everyone’s so worried about AI… I don’t think a Gollum-type character or a generated character has any hope for winning any awards," Jackson said. "Which is a bit unfair, especially in the Andy Serkis case where it’s not an AI-generated performance, it’s a human-generated performance 100% of the way."

Jackson's argument comes amid a growing number of Hollywood icons and stars embracing AI in recent months. In fact, he wasn't the only Cannes attendee to take a clear stance on the subject. Days prior, Demi Moore told reporters that she believes it's time for the industryto stop resisting AI.

She explained, "AI is here. So, to fight it is to fight something that is a battle that we will lose. To find ways in which we can work with it, I think, is a more valuable path to take."

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

On the other side of the issue, several stars have been outspoken about their fear of AI being utilized and abused by studios at the expense of art and artists. Skeptics includeNicolas Cage,Scarlett Johansson,John Cusack,Guillermo del Toro, andMatthew McConaughey.

Awards bodies have also proven themselves split on AI in recent weeks. Earlier this month,  the Academy implemented new rules to fight against AI in nominated productions, while the Golden Globes altered its rules in a way that more liberally allows for the use of AI in nominated projects. The Globes' new stipulations indicate that the use of AI won't necessarily disqualify an acting performance from contention, as long as "performances submitted for acting categories [are] primarily derived from the work of the credited performer."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly