Why James Cameron thinks generative AI is 'horrifying'
01 Dec 2025

James Cameron, the visionary director behind the Avatar franchise, has expressed his "horrifying" concerns over generative artificial intelligence (AI).

In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Cameron clarified that while performance capture technology may sound similar to generative AI, they are fundamentally different.

He emphasized that performance capture is about celebrating the actor-director moment and not replacing actors with computers.

Perspective on generative AI
AI concerns

Cameron further elaborated on his concerns about generative AI, saying it can create a character, actor, or performance from scratch with just a text prompt.

He called this capability "horrifying" and stressed that it is the exact opposite of what he does as a filmmaker.

The director's comments come ahead of the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest installment in his groundbreaking franchise.

Cameron's stance on AI in cinema
Filmmaking ethics

Cameron also addressed the growing use of generative AI in films, reiterating his position against it.

He said, "It's like, no. That's horrifying to me. That's the opposite. That's exactly what we're not doing."

The director's comments echo a broader debate in the film industry about the ethical implications and potential impact of using advanced technologies such as AI in filmmaking.