Ben Affleck’s reputation in Hollywood didn’t happen overnight — it was built step by step. Along the way, he kept proving just how talented and smart he really is. After years of acting, it wasn’t until he took the director’s seat for Argo that people got to see what he’s truly capable of.
But Affleck is also a screenwriter, and his deep understanding of complex areas like business, calculations, and technology was already on display in Good Will Hunting. Some people, however, weren’t aware of this, and recently, his talent and sharp skills resurfaced, leaving people genuinely surprised.
Ben Affleck Shares His Take On AI In The Entertainment Industry On CNBC
With the rise of artificial intelligence, there’s been plenty of buzz about its role in the film industry. After all, it’s the kind of innovation people once feared when it was nothing more than science fiction.
There’s always been concern about whether machines would replace people, and when the screenwriters’ strike happened in 2023, this issue became even more pressing. Some stars have spoken out against the use of this technology, but others believe it’s possible to strike a balance and have it benefit the industry. Ben Affleck is one of those who sees its potential — though with a few caveats.
At CNBC’s Delivering Alpha 2024 investor summit, the actor, who is also the co-founder and CEO of Artists Equity, shared his thoughts on the matter. He stated that while AI can be integrated into the professional world, it will never be able to replace humans when it comes to creating films.
He mentioned that if there were any replacements, the audiovisual market would be one of the last to be impacted, because technology “can write you excellent, imitative verse that sounds Elizabethan. It cannot write you Shakespeare.“
For him, AI will help reduce costs and barriers in the film industry by eliminating less creative tasks, allowing more people to bring their projects to life:
That’s how large video models and large language models basically work. Library of vectors of meaning and transformers that interpret it in context, right? But they’re just cross-pollinating things that exist. Nothing new is created. AI for this world of generative video, is going to do key things more, meaning – I wouldn’t like to be in the visual effects business, they’re in trouble. Because what costs a lot of money is now going to cost a lot less. And it’s going to hammer that space, and already is, and maybe it shouldn’t take a thousand people to render something but it’s not going to replace human beings making films.
It turns out that all his eloquence and deep knowledge on the subject made an impact on the audience, who quickly began to speak out and engage in a debate on the issue.
What The Internet Is Saying About Ben Affleck’s CNBC Appearance?
Although it’s natural for some to have doubts about the actor’s stance, the vast majority of people were surprised by him, largely due to his articulation as well.
Some people recalled Good Will Hunting, particularly one scene where Affleck’s character is at a job interview. In that moment, he demonstrates a solid understanding of negotiation. Given that the movie’s script was written by Affleck and Matt Damon, it’s impressive how much they both already knew about the subject and how to express the idea effectively:
you could tell they knew business from the negotiating scene from “Good Will Hunting” pic.twitter.com/k2cRl1EtUn
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) November 18, 2024
Even so, there were those who remained neutral, already well aware of the abilities:
Matt Damn went to Harvard and Affleck had perfect SAT scores. You shouldn’t be surprised.
— KalaJhadu (@kalajhadu) November 18, 2024
Damon, in fact, went to Harvard University (via People). Affleck attended the University of Vermont, where he earned an SAT score described as “allegedly near-perfect.” Among those with higher scores are names like Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, and Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft (via Ivy Coach).
Damon was even used as a comparison by fans, mainly because he’s not all that different from his friend in this regard. In 2021, the actor appeared on the famous Hot Ones on the First We Feast channel, where he gave a deep dive into his thoughts on the streaming and DVD situation.
Listening to Ben Affleck on how AI will change filmmaking economics, reminds me of Matt Damon talking about how streaming changed DVD economics. The “Good Will Hunting” guys can cook on business of film: https://t.co/cRzZHFQvyH pic.twitter.com/32n0jhyDqq
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) November 18, 2024
Opinions on the internet are varied, which is expected given how many aspects of the topic there are to explore. While debates on this often go on for a long time, it’s interesting to see that some Hollywood actors aren’t as superficial in their understanding of it as some might assume.
