New Delhi: James Cameron has clarified before the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash that the movie does not rely on any generative AI in its performance capture. The director claimed that he wanted to safeguard the audience against believing that the characters were made by the AI instead of the real human actors. He pointed out that performance capture is still a highly human art, which is entirely driven by the physical and emotional efforts of actors.
Cameron emphasised that he does not object to the technology of generative AI. The issue he is concerned about is the misunderstanding that AI replaces actors. He wrote that Hollywood should safeguard performers and make the art form remain alive in the era of AI development. To him, the bigger menace is the emergence of the big AI destroying the human premise of storytelling.
Cameron: “We Don’t Replace Actors”
The filmmaker said the Avatar world exists because of the dedication of its cast. Zoe Saldaña has been championing performance capture as one of the most empowering acts. According to her, the discipline requires rigorous physical training, underwater training, language studies and close association with stunt crews. Saldaña argues that the technology only magnifies the performances of actors and does not supersede them.
Cameron has severely criticised Hollywood for underestimating performance capture acting. In his opinion, the work of Neytiri performed by Saldaña is worthy of awards and can be no worse than a live performance. According to him, it does not make sense that CG characters are still regarded as less legitimate in the industry.
AI in VFX, not in acting
Recently, Cameron described generative AI-generated actors as being horrifying. He narrated to CBS that he would go against everything he is about by developing artificial performers that have text prompts. Nevertheless, he finds a home for AI in Hollywood – in visual effects. In 2024, he became a board member of Stability AI and is considering how AI can be used to reduce the cost of VFX without displacing artists.
He indicated that the future of large-scale filmmaking lies in accelerating the effects pipeline. To him, AI ought to complement artists, not eliminate them, so that it can decrease the turnaround time and workflow efficiency.
Although Cameron argues in favour of AI tools in the post-production phase, he is opposed to the concept of AI-generated screenplays. He claimed that he does not think that a system taught on the experiences of people can induce actual emotional wisdom. Storytelling, according to him, involves experience, which AI cannot simulate.