Filmmaker James Cameron has joined the board of directors of artificial intelligence (AI) company StabilityAI, 40 years after making a film about the company’s risks.
In “The Terminator” written and directed by Cameron in 1984, a rogue artificial intelligence called “Skynet” threatens the survival of mankind.
But the creators of fictional AI are not being hired to help prevent such technology from being developed in real life.
Instead, his role will focus on how the technology can be used for special effects, also known as computer-generated imagery (CGI).
“I’ve spent my career looking for emerging technologies that push the boundaries of what’s possible, all with the goal of telling incredible stories,” he said.
“I was at the forefront of CGI more than thirty years ago, and I’ve been at the forefront ever since.
“Now, the intersection of generative artificial intelligence and CGI image creation is the next wave.”
Among his long list of hit films, Cameron is best known for making the special effects-rich Avatar, the highest-grossing film of all time.
His new workplace, StabilityAI, is known for making stable diffusions—it generates images based on text prompts from users.
It also extends to video, with a stable video diffusion function that works on the same principle.
Cameron seems to be here to help develop this technology.
Proponents of AI video generation say it will allow artists to quickly create complex digital effects.
But for many creatives – and Cameron’s contemporaries – the use of the technology is considered controversial at best.
Last week, “Pan’s Labyrinth” director Guillermo del Toro criticized the AI-generated video In a lecture at the British Film Institute in Londoncalling it unable to produce much other than a “semi-compelling screensaver.”
Michael Bay said last year This technology “will create a bunch of lazy people” because “it doesn’t create, it only imitates.”
Hayao Miyazaki, the writer and director of the animated classic “Spirited Away,” has previously said he was “disgusted” by artificial intelligence-generated films, calling them “an affront to life itself.”
Rashik Parmar, head of BCS, the Chartered Institute of Information Technology, told the BBC that the filmmaker’s appointment comes at a time when “many of society’s fears about artificial intelligence” stem from movies.
He said: “After we watched “Terminator”, we formed the idea that artificial intelligence is malicious to mankind and will destroy us in the near future.”
“Cameron has a real opportunity to change the narrative and build positive perceptions of artificial intelligence, and we’re delighted to be working with him on this.”
One of Cameron’s first challenges in his new role will be to solidify StabilityAI’s position in the broader field of generative artificial intelligence, which faces stiff competition.
OpenAI’s rival video generation tool Sora is the most high-profile name in the field, According to Reuters Hollywood executives have discussed with the company how the film industry can leverage its technology.
Meanwhile, “The Hunger Games” and “John Wick” studio Lionsgate Agreement reached last week Working with artificial intelligence company Runway to create tools based on its vast archive of film and television.
In recent weeks, the sudden emergence of MiniMax has shaken up the video generation landscape, Created by China Conch Artificial Intelligence Company.
The tool has become popular on social media this month for its ability to quickly create high-quality videos from just a few lines of text.
In particular, a recent trend has seen people using the tool to create videos about chef Gordon Ramsay, with one popular post seeing him skydiving while cooking spaghetti.
Ramsey has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Another reason why Cameron joined the artificial intelligence industry at a critical time is copyright.
The technology works by analyzing man-made images, including images found online, which artists claim means their work has been used without permission.
Emad Mostaque, founder of Stability AI previously told BBC News Stable Diffusion uses “100,000 GB of images” obtained from the Internet for training.
Getty Images is developing its own artificial intelligence image generator, StabilityAI is being sued For that matter.
