Kathleen Kennedy (72) Raises Concerns About AI and What It Means for Hollywood

Kathleen Kennedy has spent decades helping shape modern filmmaking, so when she talks about new technology, people listen. After more than forty years in the industry, including her work on Star Wars and collaborations with Steven Spielberg, she is known for staying ahead of trends. That’s why many expected her to fully support the rise of artificial intelligence in film.

But during a recent talk at a New York conference, Kennedy made it clear she has some doubts. Speaking alongside AI expert Cristóbal Valenzuela, she explained that storytelling is deeply human and can’t easily be replicated by machines. According to her, great films come from real-life experience, not just data.

She said that personal background plays a huge role in creativity. “Taste is so fundamental to the process of creating things. It’s life experiences; it’s educational. The best directors of films and photography came out of art, they studied art,” she shared during the discussion.

Her point was simple. You can train a system to follow instructions, but you can’t give it a lifetime of experiences that shape artistic choices. Kennedy also talked about how unpredictable creativity can be. She believes that this unpredictability is what makes films special.

In her view, AI tools tend to follow patterns, which can remove that natural spark. While she is open to using the technology for basic tasks like scheduling or budgeting, she is not convinced it should play a big role in the actual creative process.

Another concern she raised is the lack of transparency in how AI systems are built. She noted that many people in Hollywood feel uneasy because they don’t fully understand how these tools are trained.

She suggested that tech companies need to be more open about their methods to build trust with filmmakers. This conversation comes at a time when Kennedy is entering a new phase in her career.

Earlier this year, she stepped down from her role as president of Lucasfilm after nearly fourteen years. Even though she is no longer leading the studio, she is still actively involved in major projects as a producer. Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan have taken over day-to-day leadership, but Kennedy continues to work closely on upcoming films.

One of her current projects is The Mandalorian & Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau. The film has already finished production and is set to release on May 22. It will mark the return of the Star Wars franchise to theaters for the first time in several years.

She is also producing Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling. Even with all these big projects moving forward, Kennedy remains focused on keeping human creativity at the center of filmmaking.

She believes that traditional skills, like practical effects and hands-on design, still bring something special that technology cannot fully replace. As the film industry continues to explore AI, Kennedy’s message is clear. Technology can help, but it should not take over the heart of storytelling.

Have something to add? Share your thoughts in the comments.