Visionary director Guillermo del Toro, the mastermind behind fantastical worlds like ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ and ‘The Shape of Water’ is making headlines again for his strong stand against artificial intelligence (AI).
In a candid conversation with NPR, del Toro didn’t hold back. When asked about his thoughts on AI, especially the new wave of generative AI, he was blunt. “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,” he said. He added, almost theatrically, that when someone emailed him about his stance on AI, his simple reply was, “I’d rather die.”
For del Toro, it’s not AI itself that’s the problem. It’s how humans handle it. He referred to what he calls “natural stupidity,” which in his view is behind most of the world’s mistakes and poor decisions. He explained that this kind of thoughtlessness is what worries him the most about the rise of artificial intelligence in creative industries.
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The director also drew an interesting connection between AI developers and the classic literary character Victor Frankenstein. In his upcoming film ‘Frankenstein’, del Toro intentionally painted Victor’s arrogance as a reflection of today’s tech visionaries, those who create without fully considering the consequences.
“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,” del Toro said.
This cautionary approach fits perfectly with del Toro’s style which often blends imagination with deep moral questions. His new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic novel promises to explore these themes with a modern lens. The movie features a stellar cast including Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Ineson.
‘Frankenstein’ is ready to stream on Netflix starting November 7. It gives fans a chance to dive into del Toro’s dark, thought-provoking world once again.