#7 - Joseph Gordon-Levitt: AI and The Film Industry
Aug 23, 2023
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Joseph Gordon-Levitt discusses the impact of AI on the film industry, including compensation for creators and the future of digital actors. He also shares his thoughts on competition, collaboration, and the challenges of compensating contributors in the film industry.
Compensation for creators when their work is used by AI is essential in the age of synthetic media.
The traditional residuals system in Hollywood needs to be updated to account for streaming and the impact of AI.
Finding the right balance between AI and human creativity is crucial to avoid homogeneity and nurture self-actualization.
Deep dives
Competition and Collaboration in the Creative Process
The podcast episode explores the tension between competition and collaboration in the creative process, particularly in Hollywood. The guest, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, shares his insights as an actor, writer, and producer, emphasizing the highly competitive nature of the industry. He discusses the ongoing strike between writers, actors, and studios, highlighting concerns about residuals and the impact of generative AI. Gordon-Levitt suggests that as AI starts using human work as training data, there should be compensation for creators. He advocates for a balance between competition and market dynamics, creating incentives for human creativity amid AI advancements.
Challenges of Residuals and Changing Industry
Gordon-Levitt delves into the concept of residuals in Hollywood and how they no longer adequately work in the era of streaming and AI. He explains that residuals are ongoing payments to actors, writers, and directors for their work in movies or shows that continue to generate revenue. However, with the rise of streaming platforms, traditional residual contracts need updating. Moreover, Gordon-Levitt explores the potential disruption from generative AI, where human work is used as training data without appropriate compensation. Recognizing the inscrutability of AI models and their impact on various industries, he calls for a compensation structure that rewards creators when their work is used by AI.
The Role and Future of AI in Creativity
The conversation delves into the role of AI in the creative process and potential ramifications. Gordon-Levitt highlights the importance of AI tools that help individuals express themselves and bring their ideas to life, making creativity more accessible. However, he cautions against overreliance on AI, which can lead to homogeneity and the production of 'junk food' content. The discussion touches on the comparison between AI and humans when it comes to creativity, emphasizing the unique qualities of human experience and the need to nurture self-actualization. Consideration is given to the potential impact of AI on various industries beyond Hollywood, such as medicine and gardening. The conversation concludes with the call for balance, finding the right mix of competition, incentives, and rules to promote human creativity in the face of AI advancements.
The Rise of AI and the Pitfalls
The speaker discusses the rise of AI and highlights the importance of mitigating the potential pitfalls as we amplify the benefits. They speculate on whether audiences would accept digital actors in movies and whether the value placed on human presence in media may change over generations. They also express caution about the addictive nature of AI and the need to teach future generations how to fight addiction.
Porn Addiction and the Threat of Addictive Technology
The speaker delves into the topic of porn addiction and its relevance as a precursor to addictive technology. They expand the definition of pornography beyond explicit content and emphasize the addictive nature of media that hijacks the brain and discourages cerebral thinking. They discuss the need to differentiate between addictive and positive experiences and the importance of aligning technology with higher goals. The speaker suggests that companies should focus on creating technologies that help users achieve their desired outcomes rather than catering to addictive tendencies.
Hollywood is currently at a standstill due to the joint writer’s & actor’s strike, in part because of the growing threat from generative AI. In this episode, I talk to one of the industry’s greatest talents and thinkers -- Joseph Gordon-Levitt -- about how he believes the industry needs to adapt in the age of synthetic media. We also hear his thoughts on how addictive technology and competitive dynamics are reinventing our relationship with creativity, human connection, even p*rnography!
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