Why AI cannot replace actors — Filmmaker

Nigerian filmmaker Akay Mason has asserted that artificial intelligence-generated films cannot replicate the emotional bond formed by human actors. In a recent post on X, Mason contended that AI-generated films inherently lack the emotional resonance audiences typically feel when watching genuine human performances. "AI films will fail. Every AI short film I've seen lacks the emotional connection we instinctively feel when watching actual humans perform. It just feels empty," he stated.

Mason also pointed out the role of celebrity culture in the appeal of human actors. "Another reason is our tendency toward idolatry and celebrity culture. We love to worship our stars. With AI films, there are no stars to worship. You know the character on screen is nothing but a series of codes," he explained.

While acknowledging AI's utility in addressing certain technical aspects of filmmaking, such as VFX, lighting, or sound issues, Mason maintained that the technology cannot replicate the core essence of a human actor's performance. "Sure, filmmakers now use AI as a tool to fix VFX, lighting, or sound issues, and that's perfectly okay.

Heck, I even used ChatGPT to fix a few grammatical issues with this post," he admitted. However, he emphasized that despite AI's increasing presence in the industry, it cannot replace the authentic human experience that defines an actor's performance. "But if we're being real, AI actors cannot replace a real actor's performance, which is, at its core, the expression of the human soul," Mason concluded.