Joseph Gordon-Levitt, in his new U.N.-appointed role, addresses AI impact
In an interview with The New York Times , Joseph Gordon-Levitt answered questions about his new United Nations advocacy role and what he believes are the dangers of AI.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, known for his work in films like Inception, has taken on a new role as the United Nations' global advocate for human-centric digital governance. He was appointed to this voluntary position by the U.N.'s Internet Governance Forum on March 17.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Gordon-Levitt addressed questions about his role and the implications of artificial intelligence. When asked why anyone should listen to an actor about such issues, he responded, "Very fair question." He recommended reading works by experts like Stuart Russell and Yoshua Bengio for a deeper understanding of AI. Gordon-Levitt also emphasized the importance of communication in addressing AI concerns, stating that his role is about fostering dialogue and understanding.
The actor expressed concern over the potential dangers of AI, including the decline of democracy and human empathy. He warned that powerful companies are aiming to dominate the economy, which could lead to a totalitarian system. Gordon-Levitt co-founded the Creators Coalition On AI in 2025 with other industry figures, advocating for responsible AI use in entertainment, including transparency, fair compensation, and safeguards against deepfakes.
His efforts have been recognized, earning him a spot on Time's "100 Most Influential People In AI" list.
Written by urgent.news from The A.V. Club's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
