Nicolas Cage has issued a stark warning against the use of artificial intelligence in acting, declaring that any actor who allows AI to influence their performance is heading towards "a dead end." In his view, robots are incapable of capturing the complexities of the human condition.
Speaking at the Saturn Awards, where he received the Best Actor award for his role in Dream Scenario, Cage used his acceptance speech to express his concerns. He thanked director Kristoffer Borgli, but then shifted his focus to the burgeoning AI landscape.
"It’s happening right now around all of us: the new AI world," Cage stated. He emphasized his belief that actors should not allow AI to dictate their performances, arguing that such reliance would lead to a loss of artistic integrity and authenticity. He stressed the crucial role of art in reflecting the human experience through a deeply personal and emotional creative process – a process he believes AI cannot replicate. "A robot can’t do that," he asserted. "If we let robots do that, it will lack all heart and eventually lose edge and turn to mush. There will be no human response to life as we know it. It will be life as robots tell us to know it. I say, protect yourselves from AI interfering with your authentic and honest expressions."
Cage's concerns are echoed by other actors, particularly in the voice acting industry, where AI-generated performances are becoming increasingly common. Ned Luke, known for his work in Grand Theft Auto 5, criticized a chatbot that used his voice, while The Witcher's Doug Cockle acknowledged AI's inevitability but warned of its potential dangers, highlighting the threat to voice actors' livelihoods.
The filmmaking community is also divided on the issue. While Tim Burton expressed his unease with AI-generated art, describing it as "very disturbing," Zack Snyder advocates for embracing AI technology rather than resisting its advancement.
