Steven Spielberg has weighed in on the growing debate over artificial intelligence in Hollywood, saying he is still “withholding judgment on AI” until he better understands how it is being used, but drawing a clear line when it comes to creative work. The three-time Oscar winner said he is open to AI as a practical tool, especially in fields such as medicine and education, and even in filmmaking for tasks like finding locations or reducing production legwork. However, he stressed that AI should not replace human decision-making in the creative process. Spielberg said he does not want AI acting as a writer, director, or designer, and rejected the idea of a computer occupying a place at a writers’ table as a “seventh writer.” He argued that creative work requires soul, originality, and human judgment, none of which can be substituted by an algorithm. According to Spielberg, AI may help support production teams, but it should never be treated as the final authority on storytelling, dialogue, camera placement, character choices, or set design. He said AI belongs in the toolbox, not in charge of the art. The filmmaker’s comments come as the entertainment industry continues to grapple with the role of AI, one of the most contentious issues in Hollywood today. The debate has intensified as studios, creators, and labor groups try to balance innovation with protections for artists and writers. Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA has endorsed the Trump administration’s AI policy framework, which calls for Congress to pass legislation focused on parental controls, protection of intellectual property rights, First Amendment safeguards, workforce development, expanded data center power generation, and fewer legal barriers to AI innovation. Spielberg’s remarks add to a broader industry conversation about how far AI should go in entertainment, highlighting a growing divide between using the technology as a support tool and allowing it to influence or control creative decisions.
