Summary

James Cameron recently shared his thoughts about artificial intelligence’s role in filmmaking. However, his statement raised some eyebrows.

Cameron is a popular filmmaker. He is known for his hit movies, includingTheTerminator(1984),Aliens(1986),The Abyss(1989),Terminator 2: Judgment Day( 1991),Titanic(1997) and theAvatarmovies. He was previously against AI, but Cameron changed his heart and joined Stability AI’s Board of Directors in September. Stability AI, is an AI company based in the United Kingdom that made major contributions to generative AI through its deep learning model Stable Diffusion. In his recent interview, Cameron embraced the benefits of AI in filmmaking.

TheAvatardirector appeared on theBoz to the Futurepodcast, explaining why he changed his stance about AI to join visual media. The renowned filmmaker explained that he wanted to understand the “space” and what the developers were thinking. His other goal was “to try to integrate it into a VFX workflow.” Cameron was convinced that AI would be essential in making blockbuster movies that use computer-generated imagery. He said:

And it’s not just hypothetical. If we want to continue to see the kinds of movies that I’ve always loved and that I like to make and that I will go to see — Dune, Dune: Part Two, or one of my films or big effects-heavy, CG-heavy films — we’ve got to figure out how to cut the cost of that in half.

Cameron stressed that shifting to AI is more about speeding up the process and not replacing the staff with technology. His vision was that using AI would allow them to do more “cool things.” However, his statement sparked debate because while many got his point and supported his idea, several were also against it. Those against AI are concerned that using it in filmmaking will result in job loss. Writers fear that AI will be used to generate scripts, removing them in the process. Visual artists and animators share the same concern. Also, AI content is quick to produce and cheap compared to human labor. However, some are concerned about the quality. The issue immediately became a topic on Reddit and several expressed disappointment, with a few wondering what would be AI’s role in Cameron’s upcomingAvatarmovies like . Some said they would not watch Cameron’s next film because it would be powered by AI. Another suggested that Cameron, himself, could be replaced with AI, without the public noticing it. Still, some defended the filmmaker, pointing out that Cameron didn’t want to take away jobs; he just wanted a tool that could speed up the workflow.

The mixed reactions from online users about Cameron’s statement regarding AI are not surprising. The topic has always been divisive, with some campaigning for it and others denouncing it. Probably, the strong reaction sprang from a place of surprise because Cameron used to be against AI. TheAvatardirector previously said that AI was “scarier” than what he presented inTerminator40 years ago because it is a real thing now. When he appeared on theNetflixseriesWhat’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates,Cameron admitted that it was getting more challenging to write science fiction. He was also wondering whether he would still be relevant in three years, considering how things change rapidly.

The concerns about AI potentially replacing humans in the workforce are understandable, considering what AI can do. It can produce a script, write a research paper, produce an image and do more things in just a couple of seconds. However, one should also note that AI is still powered by humans. It only works based on the commands and instructions provided. So, Cameron should still be credited for his work and fans should not underestimate the upcomingAvatarfilms just because of the director’s inclination to use AI. The filmmaker said he only wanted to use AI to speed up the process. Three moreAvatarfilms are coming out and with AI, any delay is unlikely.

Avatar: Fire and Ashwill hit theaters on June 30, 2025.

Source:Boz to the Future,u/mlg1981/Reddit