Decades after he released ‘The Terminator’ – which depicted a dystopian future dominated by a rogue artificial intelligence known as Skynet – James Cameron has joined the board of directors at StabilityAI.
James Cameron has joined the board of directors at StabilityAI.
The filmmaker, 70, renowned for his cinematic vision and pioneering special effects, has joined the company behind influential AI image generation tool, Stable Diffusion, 40 years after he released his groundbreaking film ‘The Terminator’, which depicted a dystopian future dominated by a rogue artificial intelligence known as Skynet.
James’ new role is not aimed at curbing the development of AI – but at harnessing its potential for advancing computer-generated imagery in film.
He said: “I’ve spent my career seeking out emerging technologies that push the very boundaries of what’s possible, all in the service of telling incredible stories.
“I was at the forefront of CGI over three decades ago, and I’ve stayed on the cutting edge since. Now, the intersection of generative AI and CGI image creation is the next wave.”
Despite his optimism about the positive power of AI, the appointment has stirred unease within the creative community.
Directors including Guillermo del Toro, 59, have publicly criticised AI-generated video, arguing it produces little more than “semi-compelling screensavers”.
And action movie maestro Michael Bay, also 59, warned such technology risks fosters “lazy people” by prioritizing imitation over creativity.
Hayao Miyazaki, 83, the revered director of ‘Spirited Away’, has expressed his disdain for AI creations, slamming them as an “insult to life itself”.
As James steps into this pivotal role, he faces the dual challenge of steering StabilityAI through an increasingly competitive landscape, in which firms such as OpenAI and Runway are making significant strides.
The movie industry is also grappling with copyright concerns over AI, with many artists alleging their work is being used without consent to train AI models.
StabilityAI’s founder has acknowledged the issue, saying its technology utilises “100,000 GB of images” sourced from the Internet.
‘Terminator’ director James Cameron joins board of directors at AI giant
