Steven Soderbergh does not mind being a spokesperson for AI after using the technology in his film, John Lennon: The Last Interview. As the film is featured at the Cannes Film Festival this year, the director seemingly defended AI while sharing his views on making the film, exploring the technology, and the need for open conversations about it. Soderbergh is well aware of the criticism surrounding his use of AI in film, including comments on AI from several notable figures in the industry. 

Despite that, he has continued to speak about AI and the opportunities the new technology can offer to artists and creative minds.

Steven Soderbergh explained that he knew people would expect him to speak openly about AI after using it in his film, John Lennon: The Last Interview. He was willing to take on that responsibility if it meant he could make a great film and properly pay tribute to John Lennon and his family. He also has not shied away from explaining how AI helped him solve a creative challenge during the filmmaking process.

“That’s the trade-off to make the best version of this. And so that’s the trade-off that I have to accept, because I owe people the best version of it and I owe Sean that,” he said in his interview with Vanity Fair. 

He used AI for a scene featuring abstract conversations between John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which included visuals of cavemen and babies crying. He acknowledged that the scene was not meant to look realistic, and this is the same reason why he chose AI to portray cavemen to make it funny, rather than getting an actor to play the role in the movie. He has been clear about his wish to explore the technology.

He further added, "I’m a believer in exploration. I want to get to whatever the new reality of this is as soon as possible so that we know what we’re dealing with."

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Now, it is not just his film. There is also another reason why Soderbergh is more willing to be a spokesperson for the technology.

Hollywood is clearly still hesitant to embrace AI, with many people strongly opposed to the technology. However, Steven Soderbergh, does not mind being its spokesperson. He wants to encourage more candid conversations about the technology and hopes people will be more transparent about it so the industry can figure out how to use it in a better way.

"I’m hoping that if people are transparent about how it’s being used, that we can determine what the sort of—I don’t want to say guardrails, but what the best use of it is," he told Vanity Fair.

When asked about how AI is evolving in several different areas and industries, Soderbergh said that the technology is advancing so fast that laws and regulations are unable to keep up, which makes many people anxious about its future. He also believes that there might be a lack of faith in people in power to make the right ethical decisions about the technology, which leads to fear. For now, while AI’s future remains uncertain, one thing is quite clear and that is a strong need for rules and guidelines on how to approach the technology.

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