‘Heretic’ Directors Used End Credits to Warn Hollywood About AI: ‘Let’s Bury It Underground With Nuclear Warheads, Cause It Might Kill Us All’

As a filmmaker who has spent years honing my craft and pouring my heart into every project, I wholeheartedly support Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ stance against the use of generative AI in movie-making. Their newest film, “Heretic,” is a testament to the power of human creativity and the importance of maintaining that connection in art.


In Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ latest release, “Heretic,” due out November 8 via A24, you’ll find engaging conversations on faith and humanity. However, those with keen eyes will spot an unusual detail in the credits: A statement declaring that “No artificial intelligence was involved in the production of this film.

The movie titled “Heretic,” starring Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East as Mormon missionaries, and Hugh Grant as a mysterious man, though it lacks heavy special effects, leaves viewers pondering over the thought-provoking topic that it presents, according to Woods.

He states that when viewers watch ‘Heretic’, they’re unlikely to suspect that it was created using generative AI. However, he emphasizes the importance of acknowledging this fact, as it’s a topic he believes people should begin discussing.

Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence capable of creating images, videos, text, and various other components based on generative modeling. This technology responds to prompts and its early advancements enable users to modify almost anything in post-production or even produce entire videos from the ground up. It has been utilized in blockbuster films such as “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Alien: Covenant”.

Woods is straightforward in his assessment of technology, describing generative AI as “a system that mixes various elements and presents the result as art. It’s not human, and there’s a questionable aspect to it, bordering on plagiarism or intellectual property infringement.

“I think this idea that an algorithm can just scrape all of human history and art off the internet, repackage it, regurgitate it, spit it out and somebody else can use that to create profit … I don’t know why that’s legal,” he continues. “It’s important for people to start talking about the need for human intersection in art, business and every facet of this life, because we’re on the precipice of every job on planet Earth being replaced overnight. It’s going to happen so fast. And it’s easy for it to happen in the arts. We’re in a business that is exceptionally greedy. Decisions are made for the bottom line and not for the good of the artistic process.”

Beck was thrilled that A24, the studio behind the film, stood by this addition to the credits.

He assures us, ‘They’re completely comfortable with the arrangement,’ he says. ‘This studio stands out as exceptionally artist-oriented in the truest sense. It’s more like a community where you collaborate with fellow humans rather than machines or being judged by algorithms. They don’t prioritize cold corporate structures like determining a movie’s release based on test scores. We deeply admire their human touch, and at a time when creativity is facing significant ethical challenges, it’s crucial to maintain open dialogues. If we don’t take a stand now against rushed decisions based on corporate logic, we risk finding ourselves in a precarious predicament within the next five to ten years.’

The two have voiced their criticisms towards AI during a time when there has been an uptick in business deals between production studios and tech firms. For instance, Blumhouse recently formed a collaboration with Meta to explore generative AI for filmmaking, while Disney set up a team to ensure the ethical application of AI in its operations.

Personally, I find the allure of this innovative technology compelling, but I can’t help but express concerns about its potential threats to the bedrock of filmmaking. Notably, a recent study by Goldman Sachs, as reported in The New York Times, predicts that generative AI could one day replace approximately 300 million full-time jobs. Frankly, I am not holding back on voicing my apprehensions about its far-reaching influence.

He finds artificial intelligence to be truly remarkable,” he expresses, “with incredible possibilities arising from it. It’s astounding! The advancements in generative AI and video are nothing short of amazing. Yet, we must consider the potential risks, as powerful as this technology is, it could potentially pose a threat to our existence. So, let’s secure it deeply beneath the earth along with nuclear weapons, as a precaution.

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2024-11-04 21:46