Matthew McConaughey Says Society’s Concerns About AI Won’t Last
Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet recently came together for a town hall at the University of Texas at Austin, hosted by CNN and Variety, to talk about one of the biggest challenges in entertainment today: artificial intelligence.
The two actors, who worked together on the sci-fi hit Interstellar, urged young creators to prepare for a world where AI is a permanent part of the industry. McConaughey was very direct about the issue.
He said the technology is already everywhere in Hollywood, and “sitting on the sidelines to make a moral plea that the technology is wrong is a tactic that is not gonna last.” He explained that studios will continue to use AI because the financial rewards and efficiency are too big to ignore.
Instead of fighting it passively, McConaughey encouraged artists to take control of their own brands. He advised creators to trademark their voices and likenesses so they can protect themselves as the technology grows.
He also speculated that in the future, AI characters could be hired for private events or even compete in film award categories, imagining new awards for best AI actor or best AI film within the next five years.
Chalamet agreed with McConaughey, saying that while the responsibility to use AI ethically falls mostly on Gen Z, current stars have a duty to protect the industry’s future. He compared the resistance to AI to the historical backlash against the introduction of sound and color in movies. “Whatever tide is coming, it’s coming,” he said, acknowledging the inevitability of the technology.
Both actors are at major points in their careers. Chalamet is currently a frontrunner for Best Actor at the upcoming Oscars for his role in Marty Supreme, a stylized sports biopic directed by Josh Safdie.
He is also preparing to reprise his role as Paul Atreides in the highly anticipated conclusion to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune trilogy, Dune: Messiah. Between acting and producing indie projects, Chalamet has become a leading voice for his generation in Hollywood.
McConaughey continues his work as a professor at UT Austin, teaching film and media classes. He has also expanded his “Just Keep Livin” Foundation to include digital literacy programs, helping young people navigate the very AI challenges he discussed at the town hall.
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