Werner Herzog gives his opinion on AI: it’s even more radical than asking you not to use it

In Hollywood there is an ever-growing divide because of AI. those who defend it as the future and those who reject it are opposing camps that don’t overlap and seem destined to clash. And everyone is choosing a side. No one seems to have a tepid opinion about it, opining bluntly on the topic of the moment. And Werner Herzog, an extremely opinionated director, has been no exception.

A director who doesn’t mince words

In an interview with Indiewire the director gave his opinion on AI in relation to About a Hero, a hybrid documentary that wanted to recreate the atmosphere of his films. On that he stated that “this young filmmaker’s intention was never to remake any (of my films), but to do something in that spirit. And I immediately said: ‘You’ll fail. It’s such a stupid idea. It’s phenomenally, abysmally stupid. I won’t take part in it’”.

But he hasn’t limited himself to giving his opinion on About a Hero, which he has called “a failure”. He has also spoken about AI in general. “It’s so standardized that AI can step in because there’s no real narrative. It’s an imitation of something that has already been done”. Doubling down, he said that he thinks it’s great that people use AI, but not for the reasons given by his colleagues who support it. “I think it’s great that AI replaces all the idiots who do nothing but repeat, repeat and repeat to the point of exhaustion. When it’s already ad nauseam, please, please, please, let AI step in and do the work”.

With an opinion this strong, Herzog clearly positions himself against AI, but also against the absence of creativity and artistic talent in today’s world. Something he has harshly criticized throughout his entire career. All this while he promotes his next film, Bucking Fastard, which will be screening at the Venice Film Festival in the coming days.