At the 2026 SXSW conference in Austin, legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg drew a firm line in the sand regarding the role of artificial intelligence in cinema. Despite a career defined by pushing the boundaries of imagination and visual effects, Spielberg revealed that he has never used AI in any of his films to date—a statement that prompted an immediate wave of applause from the audience.
Protecting the Creative Spark
Spielberg’s stance is not born from a general hatred of technology. Throughout his career, he has explored the complexities of tech through masterpieces like Minority Report, Ready Player One, and the aptly titled A.I. Artificial Intelligence. However, he makes a sharp distinction between technology as a tool and technology as a replacement for human soul.
During his interview, Spielberg emphasized that while he supports AI in various technical disciplines, he refuses to let it occupy a seat in the creative process. He noted that in his writers’ rooms, there is no “empty chair” reserved for a laptop to generate ideas. For Spielberg, the act of creation belongs solely to people.
“I am not for AI if it replaces a creative individual,” he stated, reinforcing his commitment to human-led storytelling.
A Growing Divide in Hollywood
Spielberg’s traditionalist approach stands in stark contrast to a rapidly shifting industry landscape. While the director of Jaws and E.T. maintains his distance from the tech, major studios and streaming giants are diving in headfirst:
- Amazon has begun testing new AI-driven tools designed to streamline film and television production.
- Netflix recently made headlines by acquiring Ben Affleck’s AI filmmaking startup in a deal worth a reported $600 million.
- Startups are increasingly marketing AI solutions to independent filmmakers as a way to lower costs and bypass resource constraints.
The Value of the Human Element
While the industry explores these high-cost acquisitions and automated workflows, Spielberg’s comments serve as a reminder of what makes cinema resonate. By prioritizing the “creative individual” over the efficiency of a machine, he continues to champion the personal, often messy human intuition that has defined his blockbusters for decades. In an era where the “empty chair” of AI is becoming more common, Spielberg is choosing to keep his sets and writers’ rooms strictly human.
