Hollywood filmmaker, James Cameron, believes that the weaponisation of AI presents the most significant threat to humanity. Known for global blockbusters like 'Titanic' and the 'Avatar' series, Cameron stated in a recent interview that he perceives an impending scenario similar to the nuclear arms race. Following his interview, another esteemed filmmaker, Guillermo del Toro, expressed his concerns about the hazards of AI on his Twitter account. The director, celebrated for ‘The Shape of Water’ and ‘Pan’s Labyrinth,’ warned that unregulated AI could be the final chess move before we checkmate ourselves. "Unregulated AI. Unchecked. Unrestrained and underestimated by everything except greed could be the last chess move we make before we checkmate ourselves," tweeted Del Toro. In his interview, Cameron cautioned that if we don't take the initiative to build AI, others will certainly do so, escalating the situation. In a conversation with CTV News, the director envisioned a scenario where AI-controlled combat surpasses human interventions. "One could imagine an AI in a combat theater, the entire conflict fought at a speed that surpasses human intervention. You lose the ability to de-escalate, and when dealing with the potential for escalation to nuclear warfare, de-escalation is crucial. There must be a pause, a timeout, but will they allow it? The AIs will not," Cameron was quoted as saying by the outlet. During his interview, Cameron referenced his 1984 film 'Terminator,' saying, “I warned you guys back in 1984, but you didn’t listen." Cameron's statements come at a time when Hollywood is voicing concerns over AI potentially replacing artists, actors, and writers. This issue has become a point of debate between the Writers Guild of America, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, and the Screen Actors Guild. Last week, Hollywood actors announced a strike. This followed Duncan Crabtree, the chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, a union of film and radio artists, revealing a proposal that eerily resembled the 'Black Mirror' episode 'Joan is Awful.' Meanwhile, the AMPTP proposed an AI-related solution that aims to protect actors’ 'digital likenesses' for SAG-AFTRA members. The expanding use of generative AI in films has been the main point of contention among the striking parties in Hollywood.
