AI boss claims Hollywood actors could be replaced by technology
Runway chief Cristóbal Valenzuela suggests AI could replace Hollywood actors, raising fresh questions about the future of filmmaking.
Hollywood actors could eventually be replaced by artificial intelligence, according to the head of one of the companies developing AI video technology.
Cristóbal Valenzuela, co-founder and co-chief executive of Runway, made the striking claim during the VIEW Conference in Turin, Italy, where he discussed the future of filmmaking alongside Nvidia executive Richard Kerris.
Could AI take the place of real actors?
During the discussion, Valenzuela was asked directly whether AI could replace human performers. His answer was unequivocal: "Yeah, absolutely. I think it's already happening in a way."
The comments came during a session titled Every Pixel Will Be Generated, which explored how generative technology could allow filmmakers to produce increasingly sophisticated images and moving footage.
Runway develops AI video-generation tools that can create and manipulate footage using text instructions and other inputs. Its technology is part of a rapidly expanding market attracting interest from filmmakers, advertising companies and digital content creators.
Hollywood faces difficult questions
The possibility of AI-generated performers raises questions about what happens to acting jobs, particularly if studios can produce convincing digital characters without hiring human performers.
There are also concerns about consent and ownership, including whether an actor's appearance or voice could be reproduced without permission. These issues have already become important subjects in entertainment industry negotiations.
However, Valenzuela's prediction does not mean that AI can currently replace every aspect of a professional acting performance. Delivering a convincing character across an entire production involves interpretation, collaboration and creative decisions that go beyond generating realistic images.
His comments nevertheless demonstrate how quickly the conversation around AI in entertainment is changing. For Hollywood, the question is increasingly whether advances in technology will support human performers or reduce the industry's reliance on them.
