Regarding all the anxieties surrounding artificial intelligence ( AI ) – from concerns that it will destroy jobs to predictions that it might even eliminate humanity – a Hollywood star believes that people may be making this technology seem more terrifying than it actually is.

The actor and screenwriter Ben Affleck, famous for films such as "Catch Me If You Can," believes that the growing fear surrounding AI is largely a form of "publicity," and that once people actually use it, they will realize that it can become a useful tool.

Affleck recently told Bloomberg, “Once it moves from that vague, abstract, and frightening alien concept – ‘It will kill all of us; we’re just paperclips, and it will wipe out half of white-collar jobs, all that hype’ – to what they actually see, it becomes something like another form of computing, a tool that can be used, a technological advancement.”

Affleck has always been one of the most outspoken supporters of AI technology in the industry. In 2022, he founded InterPositive, a film production startup focused on AI. Earlier this year, it was reported that the company was acquired by Netflix for $587 million.

But when asked about the role of AI in the production of his new film Animals, Affleck was not willing to reveal how this technology actually functions during the production process.

He said, “I’m a bit hesitant about whether to point out what they are, and I don’t really want to talk about it at all, because in my industry, we try to maintain the illusion of reality. It’s like when you go to watch a magic show, and the magician comes out and says, ‘Before I start, I want you to know that there’s another rabbit underneath here; this person is a trickster – that would kinda ruin the effect.’”

Affleck is concerned about the impact of AI on Generation Z and Generation Alpha, but believes that Hollywood can adapt.

Affleck, who is estimated to be worth $300 million, is not optimistic about every aspect of AI. In particular, he is concerned about how this technology will affect education and whether people will become overly dependent on it.

Affleck said, "When I worry about AI, I worry about my children at school, I worry that the number of A's they've received in college over the past three years has increased by 30%. I worry about learned helplessness. I worry about responsible use."

In various industries, how to use AI as a tool while avoiding over-reliance on it has become one of the central debates. Affleck said that in Hollywood, he has not yet seen AI being used merely to “cut costs or do some despicable things.” On the contrary, he believes that this technology is enhancing rather than replacing workers.

Affleck said, "When it's now used in film production, the number of people involved is still the same – in fact, technically speaking, even more people are employed."

However, Affleck's experience is reflective of a broader decline in employment within the film and video production industry. Data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows that between 2016 and 2026, the industry lost 49,000 jobs, representing a 21% reduction.

From James Cameron to Matthew McConnaughie, Hollywood is exploring how to embrace AI

Affleck is not the only Hollywood figure who believes that AI is a technology that the industry must embrace, although they have disagreements on how AI should be used and regulated.

Billionaire James Cameron, widely known for directing "Terminator," even officially participated in the development of the industry in 2024 by joining the board of directors of AI company Stability AI.

Actress Natasha Leon is known for her roles in Netflix's "Reincarnation Party" and "Women's Prison." She has also embraced this technology, while emphasizing the importance of protecting artists' rights. She is a co-founder of Asteria Film Co, an artist-led animation and film studio dedicated to developing copyright-respecting generative AI for films and other creative works.

Leon has always argued that Hollywood needs to participate in shaping the development of AI, rather than simply resisting it.

Last year, at the Brainstorm AI conference in Fortune, she said, "I do not believe that 'seizing' anything freely under the guise of accelerationism or China is particularly appropriate or justified."

Leon added, "We need to involve humans in AI, so that the tools won't end up dominating us instead."

Matthew McConnaughie also expressed a similar view, believing that Hollywood cannot simply remain outside of the AI revolution.

In an interview with a program from the CNN City Hall in February, he said, “It’s not just around the corner; it’s already here.” It is reported that McDonnell has applied for a series of trademarks covering his image and iconic expressions, in order to make it more difficult for AI companies or criminals to imitate him without permission.

In a recent conversation with actor Timothy Chalamet, McDonnell said, “Don’t deny it. Just sitting on the sidelines and making moral appeals, saying that’s wrong, isn’t enough. That won’t last long.”