Werner Herzog Demolishes Talentless Hacks Who Use AI to Imitate Other Filmmakers

Renowned filmmaker Werner Herzog, 84, expressed his disdain for artists who employ artificial intelligence to mimic his style or that of other filmmakers. In an interview with IndieWire, Herzog criticized a 2025 film titled "About a Hero," which leveraged AI-generated scripts inspired by his own movies and even featured AI-deepfake Herzog as the narrator. Herzog dismissed the project as "phenomenally, abysmally stupid" and a failure, stating that he would not participate in such an endeavor.

Herzog contended that if AI could prove beneficial, it would be in the form of replacing talentless individuals who rely on mimicking previous works endlessly. He called for AI to step in and handle the repetitive tasks of the unskilled. The artist's irony lies in the fact that while AI promises limitless creative possibilities, it often exposes the lack of genuine creativity in its users.

Herzog's criticism of AI extends beyond the realm of filmmaking. In a conversation with comedian Conan O’Brien, he praised AI's potential in scientific applications but expressed grave concerns about its use in warfare. He also lamented AI's intrusion into the arts, stating that he has witnessed completely AI-generated movies with no soul, devoid of story, acting, or anything else. These creations, Herzog deemed the lowest common denominator and the most common, lowest-quality content on the internet.