Artificial intelligence and its impact on artistry has been a matter of concern for Hollywood for a while now. The issue even triggered the SAG-AFTRA protests that led to a delay in several productions. However, Ashton Kutcher is firmly in favor of AI.
During a recent discussion with Google CEO Eric Schmidt at the Berggruen Salon in Los Angeles, Kutcher shared his experiences with OpenAI’s generative video tool, Sora. He said he has been testing the beta version and believes its footage is suitable for film and television. The actor has been receiving ample flak from filmmakers for his comments. Here’s what he said.
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Ashton Kutcher Praises AI’s Abilities, Says Hollywood Needs To “Raise The Bar”
Ashton Kutcher is all praises for AI and how it can lead to the betterment of Hollywood. “You can generate any footage that you want,” Kutcher said during the discussion. “You can create good 10-, 15-second videos that look very real. Some of its footage could easily be used in major motion pictures or TV shows,” he said.
Kutcher further asserted that AI holds heavy potential to reduce production costs significantly. “Why would you spend thousands shooting an establishing shot when you can create it for $100 with AI?” he questioned. “Action scenes, like me jumping off a building, can be done without a stunt person. AI can handle it,” he added.
With further advancements, ‘The 90’s Show’ star believes AI will continue to improve. “You’ll be able to create an entire movie,” he said. “You come up with an idea, the AI writes the script, you input the script, and it generates the movie. Instead of watching someone else’s movie, you can watch your own,” he added.
The actor further said that because of AI’s abilities, Hollywood would have to raise its bar. “There will be more content than there are eyeballs to consume it. Any piece of content will only be valuable if it attracts viewers. The bar for quality will have to rise because why watch my movie when you can watch one tailored specifically to your interests?” he said.
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“Cannibalizing Your Own Industry”: Hollywood Slams Ashton Kutcher’s Views
The Hollywood fraternity was quick to react to Ashton Kutcher’s comments. Former ‘Rick and Morty‘ writer Caitie Delaney took to X to respond to Kutcher. Delaney accused Kutcher of undermining below-the-line workers and “cannibalizing your own industry because you played Steve Jobs in an inferior movie and think you’re a tech genius now.”
“When you take ANY humans off of a collaborative and creative pursuit you literally lose the humanity. A hollow, dumbass, pointless shell. TV will have the same artistic merit as dish soap,” she continued.
Delaney wasn’t the only one to take a dig at Kutcher. Screenwriter J. Filiatraut also chimed in, stating, “Imagine being Ashton Kutcher stepping onto a film set now, after coming out and advocating for all those crew people to lose their jobs and f*cking starve. Gutsy choice, bud.”
Writer/director Steve Rudzinski added, “I can watch my own movie right now via making my own movies, but I still watch other movies. What a weird take.” Writer/comedian Sean O’Connor also weighed in, saying, “You could probably make an Ashton Kutcher movie with OpenAI’s Sora, but you couldn’t make a good movie with it.”
Social media users also flooded his comments section with criticism. “It’s such an ignorant, shortsighted, self-centered, short-term cost vs long-term gain mindset. You’re training it to replace YOU. And your kid’s dreams,” a user wrote. Another critic added a pointed jab, “I’d rather render a whole different Ashton Kutcher.”
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