George Lucas embraces the dark side by backing AI in filmmaking

Published Jul 15, 2026, 10:39 AM EDT

“Artificial intelligence means it’s much easier for us to make movies,” he said. “It’s very much like sitting here saying, ‘Well, I believe the horse and the buggy is really where it’s at. These cars, they break down, they need gas, there’s all kinds of problems with them and pretty soon they’ll be making them into tanks, and then they’ll be killing people. It’s terrible.’ There’s nothing you can do about it. That’s progress, it’s the future.”

To be fair to Lucas, his initial point seems more like a Pandora’s Box-style argument that once the tech is here, it is impossible to stop, rather than an outright endorsement. However, after the interviewer pushed back by raising the technology's risks, Lucas doubled down, arguing for the solutions it provides.

“If you want AI that tells you when something is fake and where it came from, AI can do that,” he said. “Humans can’t, we’re not that smart. The whole idea is you’re a human being, you’re responsible for what you say and what you do, and if you’re doing something that’s illegal you should be punished for that. Whatever you do, you should be recognised. It’s just like real life.” Beyond suggesting that AI can be used as an effective NARC, Lucas sidesteps the creative, labor, and environmental issues associated with the technology.

The topic of AI came up in the interview after Lucas described his (infamous) embrace of digital filmmaking techniques: “I have a lot of friends who are on the Film Foundation with me, that’s dedicated to saving old movies, and some of them say ‘I’ll never do digital. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) was shot with film.’ And I say, ‘No, it’s cinema. It’s the moving image. That’s what it is. It’s not a technology, it’s an idea.’”

In the context of his career, it isn't a surprise that Lucas is embracing AI, as he has often championed new technologies, regardless of the risk. For instance, the Star Wars prequel trilogy heralded an era of green-screen filmmaking, something that can be used for good but is often used for evil (i.e, making movies look really ugly). While it’s disappointing that the man behind such an imaginative universe didn’t speak out against a tool that diminishes creativity instead of bolstering it, the turn makes a bit of sense given his history.