‘Thank You for Generating With Us!’ Hollywood's AI Acolytes Stay on the Hype Train

At the recent Runway AI Summit in Manhattan, industry leaders and tech enthusiasts gathered to champion the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Despite the excited claims comparing AI to seismic inventions like fire and the printing press, some attendees—most notably Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy—voiced concern about what could be lost in the race to adopt new tech.

AI Takes Center Stage in Hollywood

With OpenAI shuttering its video app Sora and deals with Disney facing turbulence, the Summit was still brimming with optimism. Runway’s CEO, Cristóbal Valenzuela, set the tone by asserting that AI has become the conversation of the moment, underscoring this excitement with AI-generated visuals and branded merchandise celebrating "generation."

Executives from companies like Paramount, Adobe, and Electronic Arts echoed the belief that generative AI ranks among history’s most impactful technologies. They stressed that these tools can empower creators, bridging the gap between ideas and their realization.

Skepticism in the Face of Hype

Kathleen Kennedy’s presence brought balance to the hype. She questioned how film schools like the American Film Institute would continue to cultivate true artistic taste if AI were to dominate the creative process. Kennedy argued that qualities like discernment, experience, and even happy accidents are essential to innovation—and cannot be replicated by algorithms alone.

The Debate over Creativity

While most speakers were bullish on AI’s capabilities, some acknowledged its current limitations: AI cannot invent original ideas without human inspiration. Panelists reinforced that creativity is fundamentally a human trait, involving experimentation, learning, and iteration—qualities not easily replaced by automation.

Quality and Real-World Results

Despite impressive demos, many of the AI-generated images and videos shown at the summit still appeared distinctly artificial. Kennedy cited practical failures, such as AI-created props in recent Star Wars projects that lacked the craftsmanship of experienced prop masters. She argued that technology should enhance creativity, not shortcut it.

The Human Element Remains Key

The event highlighted a divide: while tech upstarts are enthusiastic to redefine filmmaking with AI, industry veterans like Kennedy caution that tools should serve artists—not replace them. The creative process, with all its messy trial and error, remains at the heart of compelling storytelling.

For a deeper look into the conversation surrounding AI’s role in Hollywood, read the original article by John Semley on WIRED.