As someone who follows breakthroughs in digital filmmaking, I’ve always viewed James Cameron as a director who pushes visual effects to their absolute limits — especially with the Avatar franchise. The immersive world of Pandora and the fluid performances of the Na’vi exist because of cutting-edge performance capture technology. Naturally, you’d expect someone so deeply rooted in high-end digital innovation to embrace every new wave of tech.

But Cameron’s stance on generative AI is surprisingly cautious. In a recent CBS Sunday Morning interview ahead of the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, he explained that performance capture — often mistaken for a cousin of genAI — is actually its opposite. While both involve computers, performance capture is fundamentally anchored in real human expression. It doesn’t replace actors; it amplifies their work.

The segment even highlights the cast performing underwater scenes inside a massive 250,000-gallon tank, proving that the magic of Avatar still comes from tangible, physical performances. Cameron emphasized that his technology celebrates the creative collaboration between actor and director, rather than diminishing it. For him, the humanity behind the characters is non-negotiable.

That’s why he draws a sharp line when the conversation shifts to generative AI. The idea that AI could fabricate an actor, a character, or an entire performance from a simple prompt is, in his words, “horrifying.” To Cameron, that’s the antithesis of what he’s building. As a tech enthusiast, it’s fascinating to see how someone at the forefront of digital filmmaking still believes that innovation should serve artistry, not erase it.