Nicolas Cage takes a cue from Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence; Face/Off star voices concerns over robots replacing actors in Hollywood

Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage has expressed strong reservations about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in acting. Nicolas, who has been vocal against the use of AI in the film industry, once again cautioned that relying on AI to enhance performances is a misguided approach that will ultimately kill the authenticity of human expression. The actor's remarks come months after Hollywood A-listers, including Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence, threatened to strike against the use of 'fundamental' issues like AI.

Nicolas Cage warns against the use of AI

During his acceptance speech for the Best Actor award at the Saturn Awards, where he was recognized for his outstanding performance in the film Dream Scenario, Cage voiced his concerns about the potential consequences of incorporating AI in acting.

As quoted by Variety, the actor said, "It's happening right now around us: the new AI world. I am a big believer in not letting robots dream for us. Robots cannot reflect the human condition for us. That is a dead end if an actor lets one AI robot manipulate his or her performance even a little bit; an inch will eventually become a mile, and all integrity, purity, and truth of art will be replaced by financial interests only. We can't let that happen," the actor said.

Sharing his take on acting and the purpose of an actor's craft, the Face/Off star said that an actor's work is not only to recite lines but also to add depth to it by tapping into human experience to convey the complexities of the human condition.

"The job of all art, in my view, film performance included, is to hold a mirror to the external and internal stories of the human condition through the very human, thoughtful, and emotional process of recreation. A robot can't do that. If we let robots do that, they will lack all heart and eventually lose edge and turn to mush. There will be no human response to life as we know it. It will be life as robots tell us to know it," he added.

Over 13,000 artists voice concerns against the use of AI

In October 2024, over 13,000 artists, including Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, songwriter Bj?rn Ulvaeus, actors Kevin Bacon, Julianne Moore, and Kate McKinnon, and musician Aurora, shared a statement to protect their work from the AI bubble.

An excerpt from the statement read, ¡°The unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works and must not be permitted.¡±

Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence among artists who threatened strike over AI

In 2023, A-listers including Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence among the more than 200 actors signed a letter to SAF-AFTRA urging them to maintain a strong stand against the 'fundamental' issues like AI.

The missive expressed concerns over the use of AI, saying, ¡°We want you to know that we would rather go on strike than compromise on these fundamental points, and we believe that, if we settle for a less than transformative deal, the future of our union and our craft will be undermined, and SAG-AFTRA will enter the next negotiation with drastically reduced leverage.¡±

Maya Hawke, Riley Keough, Joey King, John Leguizamo, Dan Levy, Eva Longoria, Rami Malek, Marlee Matlin, Chris Messina, Debra Messing, Liam Neeson, Bob Odenkirk, Patton Oswalt, Elliot Page, and Keke Palmer were among other artists who had signed the letter.

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