Nicolas Cage has taken a firm stance against the use of artificial intelligence in acting, warning that any actor who allows AI to alter their performance is heading towards "a dead end." Cage believes that "robots cannot reflect the human condition," emphasizing the importance of human authenticity in art. His comments were made during his acceptance speech for the Best Actor award for his role in "Dream Scenario" at the Saturn Awards, as reported by Variety.
Cage expressed gratitude to director Kristoffer Borgli for his multifaceted contributions to the film but quickly shifted focus to the "disturbing" rise of AI. "I am a big believer in not letting robots dream for us," Cage stated, underscoring his belief that allowing AI to manipulate performances even slightly could lead to a complete loss of artistic integrity. He argued that the essence of art, including film performance, lies in its ability to mirror the human condition through a deeply human process of recreation—a task he believes robots are incapable of performing with the necessary emotional depth.
"If we let robots do that, it will lack all heart and eventually lose edge and turn to mush," Cage warned, suggesting that AI's involvement could dilute the genuine human response to life. He urged actors and artists to protect their "authentic and honest expressions" from AI interference.
Cage is not alone in his concerns about AI in the entertainment industry. The use of AI, particularly in voice acting, has sparked significant backlash. Notable voice actors such as Ned Luke from "Grand Theft Auto 5" and Doug Cockle from "The Witcher" have spoken out against AI, with Luke criticizing a chatbot that mimicked his voice and Cockle describing AI as "inevitable" but "dangerous," echoing sentiments about potential income loss for voice actors.
The film industry has also seen a divide in opinions on AI. While legendary director Tim Burton has labeled AI-generated art as "very disturbing," Zack Snyder, known for directing "Justice League" and "Rebel Moon," advocates for filmmakers to embrace AI rather than resist it.
