Award-winning actor Michael Fassbender has spoken out about the escalating difficulty in discerning truth from fiction online, a sentiment echoed by his co-star Katherine Waterston, who raised concerns about the unchecked proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI). Their remarks come as they discuss the second season of their Paramount+ spy thriller, 'The Agency', which delves into the psychological toll of deep-cover espionage and the erosion of a moral compass.
Fassbender, who portrays veteran CIA operative Martian in the series, suggests that the show's exploration of deception and the personal cost of living a double life feels particularly pertinent in an era dominated by misinformation. "The nature of trust has changed – there are a lot of stories and theories in front of people and it's hard to decipher one thing from the next," he explained. He even admitted to having personally fallen victim to online misinformation, which was later identified by his wife, actress Alicia Vikander.
Waterston, playing CIA operations officer Naomi, further elaborated on the anxieties surrounding modern digital life. She described the current landscape as a "quagmire," where even seemingly real information requires suspicion. Her concerns extend specifically to AI, which she believes does not bode well for society, predicting that "the worst is yet to come." Waterston advocated for greater regulation of AI, questioning why it remains a "Wild West" compared to other regulated consumer products.
Both actors expressed apprehension about the unknown potential of AI, particularly when in the wrong hands. Fassbender noted that even the developers of AI may not fully grasp its capabilities, which he finds concerning. This backdrop of digital uncertainty, they argue, makes the core themes of 'The Agency' – isolation, loneliness, and the constant navigation of truth and lies – more resonant than ever with contemporary audiences.
The series itself, based on the acclaimed French drama 'The Bureau', distinguishes itself by focusing on the moral compromises and psychological impact of espionage rather than traditional action sequences. While some critics found its measured pace challenging, Fassbender believes this approach authentically reflects the reality of the spy world, where "quiet anxiety and tension" often outweigh explosions.