POLITICO Tech Rebroadcast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt on AI, Hollywood and owning your ‘digital self’
Nov 13, 2025
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, acclaimed actor and entrepreneur behind HitRecord, shares his insights on AI's profound effects on creativity and media. He expresses admiration for the technology while raising concerns over how data and intellectual property are handled. Gordon-Levitt advocates for clear laws supporting data ownership and fair compensation. He urges society to demand transparency from tech companies, emphasizing the need for public guardrails and regulations to protect artists and creators from exploitation in the evolving digital landscape.
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Episode notes
HitRecord Taught Him Tech Economics
- Gordon-Levitt recounts building HitRecord and learning media-tech economics firsthand.
- That experience made him fluent in tech dynamics and compelled him to speak publicly about AI risks.
AI Is An Amalgam, Not A Mind
- AI models are pattern machines built from massive human-created data, not independent intelligences.
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt warns users often misunderstand and personify these systems.
Monetizing Bots Threatens Incentives
- If AI firms monetize professor-like bots built from scholars' work, professors may earn nothing despite enabling the product.
- Gordon-Levitt fears this will erode incentives for quality teaching and creative work.