Creativity has nothing to fear from AI, according to Tom Holland. The actor argues that art runs on emotion, something no algorithm can fake.
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Tom Holland has joined the growing list of Hollywood names speaking up on artificial intelligence. The actor says creative work cannot be replaced by machines because creativity comes from human experience, not data.
Holland made the comments on Spain’s talk show “El Hormiguero” on Wednesday. He appeared alongside his wife, Zendaya. Speaking about AI’s impact on the creative field, Holland said artists are protected because their work is rooted in emotion and human connection.
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He explained that AI can process large amounts of data but cannot grasp human feeling. According to Holland, the technology does not understand the gap between happiness and sadness. He added that painters and artists do not create by copying. Their work comes from self-expression, something he believes AI cannot replicate.
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Holland’s argument centres on emotional understanding. He said creativity is tied to how people relate to one another, something a machine cannot replicate. For Holland, this emotional layer is what keeps artists relevant even as AI tools become more common across entertainment and media.
His comments come at a time when AI’s role in Hollywood is under heavy debate. Studios, actors and filmmakers remain split on how the technology should be used, if at all.
Holland is not alone in raising concerns. Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro recently warned about what he called “image illiteracy” and “cinema illiteracy” creeping into the industry because of AI. He raised this point while accepting a fellowship from the British Film Institute earlier this week.
Not everyone in Hollywood shares this caution. Actors Reese Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock have spoken in favour of understanding AI rather than rejecting it outright. Both have suggested the technology could be adapted into everyday filmmaking processes rather than treated as a threat.
Director Martin Scorsese has gone a step further. He has partnered with an AI company and plans to use the technology for storyboarding his films. This places him on the opposite end of the debate from voices like del Toro.
Holland’s remarks arrive during a packed period in his career. He is set to appear as Telemachus in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” releasing on July 24. Zendaya also stars in the film.
A week later, Holland returns to the Marvel universe with “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” releasing on July 31. Zendaya appears in this film as well, continuing their on-screen partnership.
Before these releases, Holland was seen in “The Crowded Room,” “Uncharted” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” His upcoming projects mark a return to two major franchises within the same summer.
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