“It’s the Wild West,” says James Cameron of the use of generative AI in film

James Cameron has said generative AI is the “next big wave in cinema technology” and “a genie that has been released from the bottle”.

“We haven’t learned how to control it yet,” he added.

Speaking from New Zealand, where he is wrapping post-production on Avatar: Fire And Ash , Cameron spoke candidly about the potential possibilities and threats of generative AI.

“I can’t think of anything coming up that is bigger and more important to us right now than confronting this generative AI issue,” he said. “It is critical that we master it and control it so that it remains an artistic tool and it doesn’t replace artists.

“The idea that this technology could potentially replace actors and the unique lens that every artist brings is horrifying…The new tools have the possibility of doing gr