James Cameron has described the idea of generative AI replacing actors as “horrifying.” While the Avatar: The Way of Water director—who also sits on the board of Stability AI—has spoken positively about AI’s role in filmmaking, he draws a clear line when it comes to substituting human performers.

Cameron, an Oscar-winning filmmaker, praised motion capture as the “purest form” of performance and admitted he regretted not fully revealing the CGI-assisted techniques in 2009’s Avatar to preserve the “magic” for audiences. Speaking on CBS Sunday Morning, he emphasized the difference between motion capture and AI, describing traditional techniques as a celebration of actors’ performances and interactions.

“In contrast, generative AI can fabricate characters, actors, and performances entirely from text prompts,” he said. “That’s horrifying to me. That’s the opposite of what we’re doing.” He stressed that he never wants technology to replace actors, saying, “I love working with actors.” However, Cameron believes AI can still benefit filmmaking, particularly in reducing VFX costs. He noted that imaginative, high-budget science-fiction films are increasingly rare because studios favor safe, established IP, making projects like Avatar unlikely today.

He also argued that AI might challenge filmmakers to push their creativity further, as generative models can only remix existing works and cannot produce truly original ideas. “You won’t find the idiosyncrasies of a particular actor or a screenwriter’s unique lived experience,” he said. “The act of performance—the real-time creation by an artist—will become even more sacred.”