Del Toro is Not Concerned with AI in Entertainment

Guillermo del Toro, the Academy-Award-winning director, thinks that the human touch in filmmaking still outweighs impact from artificial intelligence.

At a time when many entertainment professionals are increasingly fascinated and perhaps even apprehensive about the capabilities of artificial intelligence, Guillermo del Toro, the visionary director behind the acclaimed films “Pinocchio” and “The Shape of Water”, shared his take on the matter. In a recent keynote address at the Toronto Film Festival, the Oscar-winner talked about his view on AI's role in the entertainment industry and the art of animation.

“People ask if I’m worried about artificial intelligence, I say I’m worried about natural stupidity. It’s just a tool, right?” del Toro commented, underlining his belief that it's the human influence, rather than technology which is essentially a tool utilized by human artists, that dictates the success or failure of a project. He went on to add, “If anyone wants movies made by AI, let them get it immediately. I don’t care about people who want to be fulfilled and get something shitty, quickly.” This sentiment speaks volumes about del Toro's devotion to his craft and the authentic, human touch that brings a story to life.

At the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Visionaries program, del Toro posed a thought-provoking analogy, “Otherwise, why not buy a printer, print the Mona Lisa and say you made it,” further testifying to his deep-rooted belief in the authenticity of creativity.

This sentiment of the renowned director extends beyond AI to animation. For del Toro, animation is commonly misunderstood in the West as a medium reserved for children, while its essence is art and creation. He remains particularly passionate about hand-drawn and stop-motion animation to create fantastical worlds for both adults and children. Del Toro emphasized that even the so-called “computer animation” reflects a “direct transmission of personality from the animator to the model”.

Guillermo del Toro’s insights go beyond animation and serve as a poignant reminder as the entertainment industry works through technological advancements. It is, after all, the human spirit, creativity, and personality that transfers to the stories and art on screen.