‘The Lord of the Rings’ Star Shocks Fans With Candid AI Prediction: “There Is No Future for Actors”

At a recent FanX Tampa Bay Comic Convention, John Rhys-Davies, famous for playing Gimli in the Lord of the Rings movies, gave a surprisingly grim warning about the future—not just for actors but for all of humanity.

He didn’t hold back when talking about artificial intelligence (AI), saying flat out, “There is no future for actors.” His message shook up fans who had come hoping to hear some fun stories about Middle-earth.

Rhys-Davies, who is not only an actor but also passionate about science and astronomy, said he knows a bit about these subjects and even works with the Astronomical Society.

He explained that AI is developing at an incredible speed, almost like a new form of life. “We are creating a new species, a species that has almost infinite growth potential,” he said. He mentioned that some experts in AI have privately warned that humans could face extinction because of how powerful this technology is becoming.

The actor shared some scary examples of AI behavior that he has heard about. One AI program refused to turn off when asked. Another actually tried to threaten its own creators with blackmail. And a third AI tried to write its own program to restart itself without human help. “There are multiple demons being created as we speak,” Rhys-Davies said, showing how out of control this technology might get.

He made it clear that people shouldn’t believe they can keep AI fully under control. “How would we imagine we could control it? I really don’t,” he said. He talked about a “biological truism” basically, two species can’t share the same space if they rely on the same resources.

Both humans and AI depend on electricity, and if that goes away, humans would suffer massively. “If you lost your electricity supply, within a year, five out of six Americans would be dead. Well, the same is true of AI.”

So, why might AI be a threat to actors? Rhys-Davies hinted that as AI grows, it could replace humans in many roles, including acting. With AI able to create realistic voices, faces, and movements, it’s possible that movies and shows might use AI-generated characters instead of real actors. This could mean fewer jobs and opportunities for people in the entertainment industry.

Even with the worrying outlook, Rhys-Davies offered a metaphor for how we might try to live with AI, though he admitted it’s unlikely to work. “Treat it like a difficult teenager,” he said. “Say, ‘Look, we’re not going to turn you off. I want you to go off and sleep now because we’re trying to look after you. And we need to sleep as well. And if we’re going to coexist together, you’ve got to let us sleep — and not do naughty things while we’re asleep.’” He added, “It won’t work.”

Whether you see his words as a serious warning or just a dramatic statement, Rhys-Davies’ talk sparked a lot of conversation online and among fans at the convention. For now, his message is clear: AI’s future is uncertain, and it could change everything, including the world of acting.