'I'd rather die than use AI': Guillermo del Toro on using artificial intelligence in movies

Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim) has voiced his strong disapproval of the usage of artificial intelligence in his work.

Del Toro, who won the Best Director Oscar for The Shape of Water, expressed his thoughts during an interaction with NPR, ahead of the Netflix premiere of his latest feature Frankenstein, an adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel of the same name. 

The film, starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz, will premiere on the streamer on November 7. 

"AI, particularly generative AI I am not interested, nor will I ever be interested...I'm 61, and I hope to be able to remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak. The other day, somebody wrote me an email, said, What is your stance on AI?' And my answer was very short. I said, I'd rather die.'"

Comparing some tech bros to Frankenstein, Del Toro said, "He's kind of blind, creating something without considering the consequences and I think we have to take a pause and consider where we're going."

A dream project of Del Toro for ages, Frankenstein is expected to feature every trademark of the visionary filmmaker who has been known for infusing his work with references to classics from literature and cinema.

An avid cineaste with a voracious appetite for books and movies, del Toro has often toyed with the idea of man's creation of monsters or man's evolution into a monster.

He won the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Picture for The Shape of Water, in addition to the Best Animated Feature Oscar for Pinocchio.

Interestingly, Del Toro has cited the 1931 film adaptation of Frankenstein and its 1935 sequel Bride of Frankenstein as two of his favourite films. In 2018, while accepting his Best Director BAFTA trophy, he called Mary Shelley an important figure and inspiration for him as a creator.

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