As the film industry grapples with the increasing use of artificial intelligence, a towering figure has weighed in – George Lucas believes the adoption of AI in moviemaking is “inevitable.”
The Star Wars creator, whose company Industrial Light & Magic pioneered digital and CGI effects, spoke about AI’s role in an interview at the Cannes Film Festival. While acknowledging the current CGI methods used are “not quite the same as AI,” Lucas said his revolutionary VFX house has been utilizing digital technology for 25 years.
“We’ve been using it for 25 years, and it’s not AI, but we use all the digital technology because we pioneered a lot of that,” Lucas stated. “Especially at ILM, we were the only place that was doing digital.”
The influential filmmaker then drew a parallel between resisting AI and the transition from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles in the early 20th century.
"J'étais à la plage, à faire des châteaux de sables avec Steven Spielberg. Des amis m'ont appelé en disant : regarde les infos […], c'est là que j'ai compris que Star Wars était un vrai succès."
Conversation entre @ATrapenard et George Lucas, qui reçoit une Palme d’or d’honneur… pic.twitter.com/uXMN78AktA— Brut FR (@brutofficiel) May 24, 2024
“The thing of it is, it’s [AI] inevitable,” Lucas proclaimed. “I mean, it’s like saying, ‘I don’t believe these cars are gonna work. Let’s just stick with the horses.’ And yeah, you can say that, but that isn’t the way the world works.”
Lucas’s perspective contrasts with many other prominent voices in the entertainment industry expressing concerns over AI’s increasing prominence in filmmaking. The horror movie Late Night with the Devil faced backlash for using AI-generated imagery, while A24 drew criticism for AI-made posters for Civil War.
A legal battle also erupted after an entire stand-up special was created using AI to synthesize the voice of late comedian George Carlin. While some like Tyler Perry and William Shatner have dismissed AI fears, others such as Baz Luhrmann, Matthew Modine, and Scarlett Johansson have voiced strong opposition.
As the debate rages, the Star Wars visionary believes the technology’s adoption is already a foregone conclusion. The lingering question remains how AI and human creators will coexist and find balance as this brave new filmmaking frontier emerges.
With his pioneering work in digital effects, Lucas’s perspective carries significant weight. As the industry forges ahead, his words suggest AI’s integration into the process is simply the natural next step in cinema’s relentless evolution.
