Guillermo del Toro Warns AI Could Push Cinema Toward “Illiteracy” as He Defends the Human Soul of Filmmaking

Guillermo del Torohas always spoken about movies with the kind of passion that reminds you why people fall in love with cinema in the first place.

So when the filmmaker took the stage at the BFI America dinner in Hollywood this week to accept one of the British Film Institute’s highest honors, he didn’t spend his time celebrating himself. Instead, he delivered a warning about where he believes the industry is heading.

And according to del Toro, the road ahead looks pretty dangerous. The Oscar-winning director of Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy, The Shape of Water, and last year’s Frankenstein used the event to sound the alarm about artificial intelligence, corporate consolidation, and what he sees as growing threats to artistic expression.

Speaking to the crowd gathered at Mother Wolf, del Toro said: We are on the verge of image illiteracy. We are on the verge of cinema illiteracy.”

That’s a pretty dramatic statement, but it reflects just how seriously he views the issue. For del Toro, filmmaking isn’t simply about creating content. It’s part of a human tradition that stretches back to the earliest cave paintings.

The act of creating images, stories, and art is deeply connected to who we are as people. That’s why he believes the growing push toward AI-generated imagery should concern filmmakers and audiences alike.

As he explained: “The pact between man and image is sacred.” He also expressed concern that artistic freedom is being squeezed from multiple directions at once, including increasing political division around the world.

Art, he argued, has always been one of the few things capable of bringing people together. But he fears that ability is becoming more fragile. Del Toro didn’t mince words when talking about artificial intelligence, referring to it as a form of “natural stupidity.”

He continued: “We are told images can be generated by artificial means. The existence of an image is not just to be there. It is to connect us, to make us feel beauty.”

It’s easy to understand where he’s coming from. Del Toro has built a career creating deeply personal films packed with emotion, imagination, and craftsmanship. His movies feel handmade because they are handmade.

That said, I’m not entirely convinced things are as dire as he makes them sound. AI certainly raises legitimate concerns. There are important conversations happening right now about copyright, artist compensation, job displacement, and the ethics of machine-generated work. Those discussions matter and shouldn’t be brushed aside.

But the existence of AI doesn’t automatically mean human creativity is headed for extinction. People have always adapted to new tools. Digital cameras didn’t kill photography. CGI didn’t eliminate practical effects.

Streaming didn’t stop filmmakers from making great movies for the big screen. Creative people tend to find ways to use technology while still bringing their own voice, imagination, and perspective to the work.

Some artists will absolutely experiment with AI as part of their creative process. Others will reject it completely. Most will probably land somewhere in the middle.

The idea that a machine can fully replace the weird, messy, emotional experiences that shape human storytelling still feels like a pretty tough sell.

Of course, del Toro’s comments weren’t just about AI. They were also about preserving film history and making sure future generations understand the art form that came before them.

The filmmaker spoke about his own connection to the British Film Institute, recalling how he would write to the organization as a teenager growing up in Guadalajara. The BFI would send 16mm prints of films by legendary director Carol Reed and other classics for his local cinema club screenings.

That lifelong love of film has now come full circle. The BFI Fellowship is the organization’s highest honor, recognizing extraordinary contributions to cinema.

During his speech, del Toro said he was moved by the opportunity to visit the BFI archive, a collection that stretches back to 1935. He has also pledged to donate one-third of his personal papers and archives to the institution.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who introduced del Toro at the event, shared a story about their first meeting while working on Netflix’s animated adaptation of Trollhunters.

Sarandos recalled: “I went into the meeting thinking, ‘Why is this master filmmaker steering what I thought was a cartoon for us?’” He added: “And then I watched Guillermo create a universe in front of my eyes.”

That ability to inspire wonder is exactly why del Toro remains one of the most respected filmmakers working today.

Despite receiving one of the film world’s most prestigious honors, del Toro spent much of his speech focusing on education and preservation. He explained that he’s entering what he called the “giving back” phase of his career and plans to teach classes for the BFI examining the genius of early Alfred Hitchcock films.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came when he described the role film advocates should play: “We are not gatekeepers. We are gate-holders so more people can come in and out of the church of cinema.”

He followed that with a deeply personal reflection: “I’ve been saved by images so many times in my life.”

That sentiment really gets to the heart of what he was trying to say. Whether people agree with his views on AI or not, del Toro’s larger point is about protecting the emotional and artistic connection that movies create.

He also reminded the audience that great films never truly belong to the past. Speaking about classics like Preston Sturges’ 1941 comedy Sullivan’s Travels, he said: “These films are never from the past. When someone sees them for the first time they are present.”

That’s one of the beautiful things about cinema. A movie made decades ago can still feel brand new when it reaches someone for the first time.

Del Toro wrapped up his concerns with a vivid metaphor that painted a picture of an industry facing difficult choices: “Right now, the bus is so close to a cliff, we all have to lean to the right side.”

Maybe he’s right. Maybe the industry is standing closer to the edge than many people realize. Or maybe AI will simply become another tool in a long line of technological advances that filmmakers learn to use without sacrificing the humanity that makes storytelling special.

Either way, del Toro’s speech serves as a reminder that preserving cinema’s past while protecting its future is a conversation worth having.

Via: Variety