Werner Herzog invites AI "filmmakers" to fail

Renowned filmmaker Werner Herzog dismissed a young filmmaker's attempt to create an AI-generated tribute to his work, calling it an "abysmally stupid" idea that he wouldn't participate in. This remark came during Herzog's appearance at the 2024 IDFA documentary festival, where he was promoting his own film, "Bucking Fastard," starring Kate and Rooney Mara. The AI project in question, titled "About A Hero," was described as a pseudo-documentary based on a script generated by an AI trained on Herzog's extensive body of work.

In response to the project, Herzog maintained that he wanted to contribute his voice and insights to the film. However, he firmly stated that the AI version was doomed to fail, emphasizing that free speech does exist and that the filmmaker should feel free to try, but ultimately, it would be a failure. The film was met with mixed reviews, with some critics describing it as "blithely incoherent."

Beyond his reaction to this specific AI project, Herzog's remarks also extended to the broader implications of AI in filmmaking. He expressed skepticism about the standardized nature of AI-generated content, arguing that it often relies on imitation rather than genuine storytelling. Herzog welcomed AI to step in and handle the work of filmmakers who simply repeat themselves without offering anything new, suggesting that AI could help those who have exhausted their creative resources.