Nicolas Cage Slams AI Acting: 'Robots Can't Capture Human Essence'

Nicolas Cage has expressed strong reservations about the use of artificial intelligence in acting, warning that any performer who allows AI to alter their performance is heading towards "a dead end." Cage, who recently won the best actor award for his role in "Dream Scenario" at the Saturn Awards, used his acceptance speech to voice his concerns about the encroachment of AI into the arts.

"I have to thank Kristoffer Borgli for his direction, his writing, his editing and for creating this incredibly disturbing but hilarious world that he dreamt up," Cage started, before shifting focus to the broader issue of AI. "But there is another world that is also disturbing me. It’s happening right now around all of us: the new AI world. I am a big believer in not letting robots dream for us. Robots cannot reflect the human condition for us. That is a dead end if an actor lets one AI robot manipulate his or her performance even a little bit, an inch will eventually become a mile and all integrity, purity and truth of art will be replaced by financial interests only. We can’t let that happen."

Cage emphasized the essential role of art, including film performances, in mirroring the human condition. "The job of all art in my view, film performance included, is to hold a mirror to the external and internal stories of the human condition through the very human thoughtful and emotional process of recreation. A robot can’t do that. If we let robots do that, it will lack all heart and eventually lose edge and turn to mush. There will be no human response to life as we know it. It will be life as robots tell us to know it. I say, protect yourselves from AI interfering with your authentic and honest expressions."

Cage is not alone in his apprehension towards AI; other actors have also raised concerns, particularly in the realm of voice acting. For instance, Ned Luke, known for his role in "Grand Theft Auto 5," has criticized a chatbot that replicated his voice, while Doug Cockle, the voice behind "The Witcher," acknowledged AI's inevitability but warned of its dangers, echoing Luke's sentiment that such technology could undermine voice actors' livelihoods.

The film industry has also seen a variety of responses to AI. While legendary director Tim Burton finds AI-generated art "very disturbing," Zack Snyder, the director of "Justice League" and "Rebel Moon," advocates for filmmakers to embrace AI rather than resist it.