Veteran filmmaker Steven Spielberg has firmly denied claims made by actress Emily Blunt that he proposed using artificial intelligence (AI) for a pivotal scene in their latest sci-fi thriller, 'Disclosure Day'. Blunt, who portrays a weather presenter in the film, recently stated that Spielberg had offered AI as an option for her character's sudden transition into an alien language. However, the three-time Oscar winner has since refuted this.
During promotional interviews for 'Disclosure Day', which premiered in cinemas last week, Blunt recounted being given a choice by Spielberg: "He said, 'You know, we could do it with AI, or you could do it.' And I was like, 'I feel confident I can make some weird noises.'" She reiterated this account on the popular online show 'Hot Ones', expressing her apprehension about AI use.
Conversely, in a recent interview with ITV News, Spielberg directly challenged Blunt's version of events. He stated unequivocally: "I would never use AI. I would never have made the choice, even if Emily was unable to produce the sounds that she did produce, by the way, organically – I would never have used AI." The director instead highlighted his preference for conventional methods, suggesting he would have explored options like recording animal sounds – such as a dolphin or an elephant – and manipulating them through slowing, speeding, or playing backwards.
Spielberg took the opportunity to commend the film's highly decorated sound designer, Gary Rydstrom, who holds seven Oscars. He expressed confidence that Rydstrom would have devised an innovative, non-AI solution had Blunt been unable to create the necessary sounds herself. "He would have found a way if Emily couldn’t produce it, but fortunately, Emily produced all those sounds herself," Spielberg remarked.
Blunt ultimately performed the distinctive alien vocalisations herself, describing a process involving two microphones – one at her mouth and another at her throat – to capture a range of strange sounds, including clicking, humming, and breathing noises. This raw audio was then refined by the sound designer to achieve the desired effect for the film, which is expected to be available on streaming services in the UK later this year, potentially Apple TV+, given previous distribution patterns for similar films.
The exchange between Spielberg and Blunt underscores the ongoing, often contentious, debate surrounding the role of AI in the creative industries. While some directors, like Martin Scorsese, have explored AI for pre-production storyboarding, others, such as Guillermo Del Toro, have publicly denounced its use in filmmaking. Peter Jackson has also raised concerns about the fairness of AI-generated characters in relation to industry awards like the Academy Awards.
Source: ITV News, Entertainment Tonight, Hot Ones