Ben Affleck defends AI in filmmaking, says technology will not take over Hollywood

Hollywood actor Ben Affleck has gone viral after showcasing his technical knowledge of artificial intelligence, machine learning and neural networks, impressing viewers with an unusually detailed explanation of how the technology works in filmmaking.

Affleck, who recently sold his AI filmmaking startup to Netflix in a deal reportedly valued at $587m, demonstrated his understanding of the technology during interviews with GQ and Bloomberg, discussing everything from Python programming to how AI models can support film production.

Speaking on GQ’s One More Question series, the actor said his interest in technology began when the film industry transitioned from analogue to digital production.

He explained how machine learning had been used in visual effects for years, including to identify objects and separate actors from green-screen backgrounds.

“I can write, like, pretty shitty Python scripts and stuff like that,” Affleck said, before explaining how convolutional neural networks process visual information and how newer transformer models can perform more complex computations.

He also described how images are converted into numerical data known as tensors, which AI systems use to process visual information.

Affleck’s detailed explanation surprised many viewers, with clips from the interview circulating widely online and prompting discussions about the actor’s technical expertise.

He said his interest deepened as he explored how artificial intelligence could improve filmmaking without replacing the creative contributions of actors, directors and other industry professionals.

Affleck disclosed that he had visited AI companies, including OpenAI, to learn about emerging technologies before deciding to build a business around their potential applications in film production.

The actor said his startup developed a proprietary dataset to train AI models for specific filmmaking tasks, allowing the technology to work alongside artists while addressing concerns about the use of performers’ likenesses and creative work.

He explained that the company spent about eight months filming with multiple cameras and specialised equipment to create the dataset used to train open AI models for particular production tasks.

Affleck also disputed reports that the Netflix deal was worth $587m, saying the figure was inaccurate because he did not own the entire company.

At the Screentime 2026 conference in Los Angeles, Affleck discussed how filmmakers could adapt open-source AI models by fine-tuning them to meet specific cinematic standards while retaining control over their proprietary work.

He said the approach could help filmmakers use AI for specialised tasks without surrendering ownership of their creative assets.

The actor said he had applied the technology during post-production on his film Animals, using AI to assist parts of the filmmaking process.

Despite growing concerns about AI’s impact on employment and creativity, Affleck argued that the technology should be viewed as an addition to filmmaking rather than a replacement for the industry.

His concerns about AI, he said, were focused more on its effects on education, responsible technology use and people’s ability to think independently than on science-fiction scenarios involving machines taking over the world.

“When I worry about AI, I worry about my kids in school. I worry about the 30% rise in the number of A’s given out at colleges over the last three years. I worry about learned helplessness,” Affleck said.

He added that he did not believe AI would take over the film industry in any meaningful way, arguing that it could instead expand the tools available to creative professionals.