Ben Affleck Paints a Rosy Picture of AI's Place in Entertainment Industry

Hollywood star Ben Affleck has expressed his confidence that artificial intelligence (AI) will not revolutionize the entertainment industry, despite growing concerns about its impact on jobs. Speaking at CNBC's Delivering Alpha conference in New York, Affleck emphasized that collaboration, taste, and intuition are the essential human elements of artistic processes, which AI systems cannot replicate.

Affleck cited Shakespeare as an example of a writer whose works can never be fully mastered by AI, highlighting that while AI can generate imitative verse, it lacks the depth and nuance that comes with human creativity. "AI can write you imitative verse... but it cannot write you Shakespeare," he said.

However, Affleck acknowledged that AI could have a significant impact on the visual effects aspect of filmmaking, where automation could potentially displace workers. He warned that while this might offer some efficiencies for studios, it could also lead to job losses in the industry.

On the other hand, Affleck sees AI as an opportunity to democratize filmmaking by streamlining labor-intensive and expensive processes. "Tools powered by AI can make it easier for the next generation of filmmakers to create projects like Good Will Hunting," he noted, suggesting that this could be a positive development for emerging talent.

Affleck also drew a metaphor between using AI in filmmaking and a craftsman watching someone build furniture. He argued that while AI might enable replicating existing forms, "nothing new is created" - implying that true innovation requires something beyond technical application of algorithms.

As CEO and co-founder of Artists Equity, which aims to reshape the entertainment business model, Affleck's sentiments suggest an optimistic outlook for filmmakers looking to leverage AI in their creative work.