Steven Spielberg Explains Why He Hasn’t Used AI in Filmmaking

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who made a film called AI in 2001, says he has never used artificial intelligence to make a film, but doesn’t seem completely opposed to the idea.

“I’m for AI in many different disciplines,” he told an audience Friday at the South by Southwest festival and conference in Austin. “I’m not for AI if it replaces a creative individual.”

Spielberg was interviewed by Sean Fennessey of The Ringer podcast, The Big Picture. Spielberg last came to SXSW in 2018 for an activation event and premiere screening of Ready Player One.

Fennessey began the interview by asking about Spielberg’s earliest cinematic memories and went on to discuss the filmmaker’s experiences as a filmmaker, parent and alien enthusiast.

Spielberg said that so far AI has not been used in any of his films or TV projects. But he did not rule out the possibility of using AI in the future.

“All the seats are filled” in his writers’ rooms, he said. “There’s no empty chair with a laptop on it.”

The subject of technology, which has permeated Spielberg’s work, including the film Minority Report, came up several times during the talk. The filmmaker said he keeps up with current events through his children and grandchildren, but avoids social media altogether because he simply doesn’t have the time.

He tried Instagram for two weeks.

“I had lost time as if I had been abducted by aliens,” he said.

Aliens Didn’t Contact ET Director

Given that it’s the subject of the acclaimed director’s upcoming film, Disclosure Day, which will be released in June, aliens have been a major topic of conversation.

When asked if he’s been following recent stories about President Barack Obama’s comments on the possibility of aliens (which also came from a podcast), Spielberg said he’s always fascinated by extraterrestrial stories and theories, including documentaries.

“I don’t know any more than any of you. But I have a very strong suspicion that we are not alone on Earth right now,” Spielberg said. “And I made a film about it,” he said, referring to Disclosure Day.

The film is not showing at South by Southwest, but it is being promoted with a sign and large mural in downtown Austin.

Spielberg lamented not having been contacted by extraterrestrials, even though he made several films about them, including ET, War of the Worlds and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

“I haven’t even had a close encounter of the first or second kind. Where is the justice in that?” Spielberg joked. “If you’re listening, I’m talking to you!”

He has no plans to retire or ever stop making films, even though he has been balancing filmmaking and parenting for 20 years. The director mentioned a film he directed that was very neglected (the romantic film called Always). He also talked about how creating ET made him want to become a parent and hinted at what his next big project might be.

When Fennessey pointed out that Spielberg had made films in every genre except westerns, the director said he had a project in the works that he wanted to shoot in Texas. He promised it would be a western without the typical western tropes.

Spielberg said: “I have something in development right now. And it’s kicking ass!”