Simu Liu Warns Against AI in Movies: “Art Is Art Because It’s Human”
Simu Liu is speaking out against the use of AI to replace actors, especially background performers.
The Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star recently pushed back on comments from Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, who suggested that using AI extras could help lower production costs for films, including Liu’s upcoming A24 project, Marty Supreme.
Liu first responded on X, writing, “sure, blame the extras making 15-22 dollars an hour struggling to make a living and not above the line people making multiple millions.” He later spoke with Deadline during press for the Netflix animated film In Your Dreams and explained why this issue is so important to him.
“First of all, I thought that take that I was responding to is a really dumb take, particularly really tone deaf and out of touch and also just kind of incorrect,” Liu said. He stressed that background actors making minimum wage are not responsible for rising movie budgets.
Liu’s stance is personal. He started his acting career as a background performer, appearing in Pacific Rim shortly after leaving his accounting job more than a decade ago. He described that experience as “invaluable” for learning the technical aspects of filmmaking.
“This idea of replacing actors with AI, it’s so antithetical to my development as an actor. I think if I was able to learn from that experience, then how many other people are doing the same? In depriving the world of background actors, you’re also depriving people the opportunity to kind of pick up these skills,” Liu explained.
He also made it clear that filmmaking is a human art form and should remain that way. “Film is such an artist’s medium. Of all the uses of AI that have come forth, replacing art is just, I feel like, the last thing that anybody wants to do with AI. I feel like art is art because it’s human. It comes down to even the way that extras move…it all plays into the frame, and it’s all meaningful to the story. I really do feel like human beings are smart. I feel like when we see somebody in the background not moving like a human, we know. I feel like we could still tell the difference, at least right now.”
For Liu, AI may have its place in some areas, but acting, especially the work of background performers, is something that computers cannot replace. He sees it as not only essential to storytelling but also as an important way for new actors to learn and grow on set.
It’s clear Liu values the human side of filmmaking, and his comments highlight an ongoing debate about the role of AI in the entertainment industry. Do you think AI should replace extras in movies, or should acting remain a human craft? Share your thoughts in the comments.
