Great science fiction stories often try to give people a warning about something. One big warning that lots of movies and shows talk about is the idea of machines, like computers, becoming as smart as people.
A famous movie about this is Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott. Some fans were disappointed when they found out that Scott himself might be ignoring warnings about how today’s A.I. could be a real problem for creative people.
The topic came up when Scott did a recent interview with the New York Times to talk about his new movie, Gladiator II. At one point, they discussed how much the movie cost.
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Although Scott didn’t say it cost the rumoured $300 million, he talked about trying to be “budget-conscious.” One way he thinks that could work is by “trying to embrace A.I.” When asked exactly how, Scott replied, “I want to do animation.”
“Would that put people out of work?” The interviewer asked Scott this because he had talked to people in the animation business who are worried about A.I. taking over their jobs. They’re concerned that using A.I. could replace the work they do.
I think you might create jobs. But it means relearning. Somebody once said that in your lifetime, you may have to retrain twice, three times, and it’s rough for the average person. For me, I have to just evolve. I like to think I’m a tennis player and I’ve got to keep bouncing the ball.
responded Scott
When the interviewer pushed Scott to explain how A.I. “might create jobs,” the director seemed to step back or at least change what he was saying.
I don’t think it’s going to create jobs except for very high-end specialists. You can have done in a week what would take 10 guys 10 weeks.
he said
The A.I. problem shown in Blade Runner isn’t exactly like the one we’re facing now (at least, not yet). But, as the New York Times interviewer points out, there are real reasons to worry about companies using A.I. to make stories, especially animated ones.
Speaking as a Ridley Scott fan, it’s disappointing to see one of my favourite science fiction creators ignore a warning important to the genre.
After all, those “10 guys” might have ten families, and those “10 weeks” of work could put a lot of food on ten tables.
Source: The Pop Verse