Over 700 Hollywood Creatives, Including Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Bell, Unite Against AI in New Campaign: “Taking Our Work Isn’t Innovation”

Scarlett Johansson, Kristen Bell, and Vince Gilligan, the mastermind behind Breaking Bad, are part of a collective of 700 Hollywood creatives rallying against the misuse of AI in the entertainment industry.

The statement emphasizes, “America’s creative community is the envy of the world. But instead of honoring and safeguarding this invaluable asset, some major tech companies, often supported by private equity and other investors, are exploiting American creators’ work to develop AI platforms without permission or respect for copyright law. Artists, writers, and creators are uniting with a clear message: Taking our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft – plain and simple.”

This initiative, dubbed Stealing Isn’t Innovation, has garnered support from notable figures like Cyndi Lauper, Olivia Munn, R.E.M, Paul Feig, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, The Roots, and many others. It stems from the Human Artistry Campaign, a global coalition of over 180 organizations advocating for “responsible, ethical AI.” Numerous actors have been victims of deepfakes, which have become increasingly realistic due to AI advancements, while others have had their work outright stolen. In 2024, OpenAI even utilized Johansson’s voice from the film Her, a romantic story about a computer companion, for a GPT-40 chatbot.

The statement further asserts: “A better way exists – through licensing deals and partnerships, some AI companies have chosen the responsible, ethical path to acquire the content and materials they wish to use. It is possible to achieve both. We can advance AI technology while ensuring that creators’ rights are upheld.”

Additionally, we can’t overlook Tilly Noorwood, the entirely AI-generated actor who made waves last year when agencies expressed interest in representing her. It’s important to note that Tilly is the result of training AI on thousands of female actors, making her a product of appropriated content. Given the current trajectory, she might even find herself in the running for an Oscar someday.