Science fiction creators keep their distance from artificial intelligence

Speaking at SXSW London, Patrice Vermette opposed the inclusion of GenAI in their work. Guillermo del Toro, Margaret Atwood, and others also...

As the debate about artificial intelligence grows in the world of science fiction, many creative figures insist on preserving the role of human labor in production. From digital art to big-budget films, concerns about generative AI potentially weakening creativity are coming to the forefront.

Speaking at a session held on Tuesday at SXSW London, Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermette clearly stated his opposition to the inclusion of GenAI in their work. At the event, which addressed the relationship between science, world-building, and fictional narratives, he objected to the pressure this technology exerts on the creative process.

Emphasis on human creativity in science fiction

Science fiction has long been seen as a narrative field that teaches lessons about morality, humanity, and technology. In recent years, this debate has directly confronted leading figures of the genre with the future of their own professions.

Vermette is known for his work on the Dune films. The approach he expressed at the same session highlighted the idea that AI in science fiction production should be seen not as a tool but rather as a topic to be debated.

Reactions from Guillermo del Toro, Margaret Atwood, and others

Vermette is not the only figure cautious about artificial intelligence. Guillermo del Toro has openly opposed the use of GenAI in film and creative work before. Margaret Atwood has assessed AI as an inadequate tool for poetry and fiction.

Some figures argue that GenAI is now a part of life. The approaches of names like actress Demi Moore and director Martin Scorsese in this direction sparked debate. Meanwhile, Nobel laureate writer Olga Tokarczuk stating that she uses AI in the creative process led to harsh criticism from writers worldwide.

Success examples attributed to human production

The text also emphasizes that GenAI does not play a decisive role in advancing science fiction. Innovations highlighted in productions like Frankenstein, Dune: Part One, and Dune: Part Two are said to stem from human creativity, not artificial intelligence.

Similarly, the global box office exceeding 670 million dollars for the Project Hail Mary film, whose two directors are known to be skeptical of GenAI, is cited as an example of the power of human labor-based production. The film is noted as one of the major successes in the post-COVID era not tied to the superhero genre.

Science fiction archive argues no need for artificial intelligence

The article reminds that science fiction has a creative accumulation spanning decades and even centuries. Works like Frank Herbert's Dune novel, Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness, and productions signed by George Lucas are listed among examples showing that the genre can build new worlds without technological tools.

The extensive archive consisting of film, literature, video games, and similar fields is argued to prove that creators do not need artificial intelligence to produce. According to the text, the main expectation is originality; AI, by its nature, cannot fully provide this.

Within this framework, figures like Vermette favor not completely excluding AI from the future of science fiction but rather including it as a subject of the narrative. Thus, technology is positioned as an element of the story rather than the creator.