Stars Speak Out: Johansson, Blanchett, Gordon-Levitt and 700 Other Stars Lead New Anti-AI Initiative
A massive group of Hollywood stars and musicians have united to draw a line in the sand regarding artificial intelligence.
Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are leading the charge as part of a list of over 700 supporters for a new campaign. The initiative is titled “Stealing Isn’t Innovation,” and it takes aim at tech giants using creative works without permission.
The campaign was launched by the Human Artistry Campaign, a large coalition that includes unions, industry groups, and individual creators. Their goal is to advocate for human rights as AI technology continues to grow at a rapid pace. The group released a list of “creator signees” who all agree that human work should not be fed into AI models without consent.
The message from the campaign emphasizes the economic value of human creativity. The statement noted that “America’s creative community is the envy of the world and creates jobs, economic growth and exports.” However, the group feels that these contributions are being exploited rather than celebrated.
According to the campaign, the funding behind these tech companies makes the situation even more frustrating.
The statement continued, “But rather than respect and protect this valuable asset, some of the biggest tech companies, many backed by private equity and other funders, are using American creators’ work to build AI platforms without authorization or regard for copyright law.”
The artists involved are trying to make it clear that technological advancement should not come at the cost of theft. Their collective statement declared, “Artists, writers and creators of all kinds are banding together with a simple message: Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft – plain and simple.”
The organization suggests that there is a middle ground where both technology and art can thrive. They believe tech companies should seek out licensing deals and partnerships rather than taking data for free. The group noted that “some AI companies have taken the responsible, ethical route to obtaining the content and materials they wish to use.”
They remain optimistic that a solution is possible if companies are willing to cooperate. The group stated that “it is possible to have it all,” and added, “We can have advanced, rapidly developing AI and ensure creators’ rights are respected.”
The list of people signing this document includes legends from the music industry as well. Bonnie Raitt, Chaka Khan, Common, Cyndi Lauper, and Questlove have all added their names. Bands like R.E.M. and One Republic, as well as television creators like Vince Gilligan, are also supporting the cause.
It is not surprising to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt involved in this specific fight. He has been a vocal critic of the dangers of unchecked AI development for some time. Back in October, he publicly called for a pause on AI super-intelligence until proper safety standards could be met.
He took to the social media platform X to share his thoughts in a video at the time. “Why would you want to build an AI that’s smarter than humans?” Gordon-Levitt remarked. He questioned why the industry is obsessed with creating one tool that does everything.
He continued his argument by saying, “You could say AI is going to cure diseases or AI is going to help strengthen our national security, and, yeah, I want those things, too. But why couldn’t we just build an AI tool to help cure diseases or build an AI tool to help with national security? Why does it have to all be one big product that does everything?”
Scarlett Johansson has also had personal conflicts with this technology recently. In February, she spoke out after a video used her likeness without her consent and went viral online. She viewed the incident as a warning sign for the rest of society.
She called for immediate government intervention to protect individuals. “I urge the U.S. government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority,” she said at the time. She described it as “a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large.”
Scarlett Johansson is one of the most recognizable faces in the world, largely due to her role as Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She appeared in multiple blockbusters for the studio, culminating in her own standalone film in 2021.
Beyond superheroes, she has received critical acclaim for her roles in films like Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit, earning two Oscar nominations in the same year. Recently, she starred in the space-race romantic comedy Fly Me to the Moon alongside Channing Tatum. She is also currently preparing to lead the next chapter of the Jurassic World franchise, which is currently in production.
Cate Blanchett is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses of her generation. She has won two Academy Awards, one for The Aviator and another for Blue Jasmine. Fans of fantasy cinema know her best as the elf Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Recently, she took on a very different role in the video game adaptation Borderlands. She also received massive praise for her performance as a conductor in the drama Tár.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been working in Hollywood since he was a young child. He became a household name on the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun before transitioning into a successful film career. He starred in the beloved romantic comedy 500 Days of Summer and the sci-fi thriller Inception.
He also founded HitRecord, an online media platform that encourages collaboration between artists, which aligns with his stance on protecting creator rights. Recently, he appeared in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F on Netflix.
We are curious if you believe using creative work to train AI is actually theft or if it is just part of technological progress, so please share your perspective in the comments.
