Matthew McConaughey Says the Debate Over AI Ethics Is Not Going To Last
Matthew McConaughey and Timothée Chalamet recently united for a CNN and Variety town hall at the University of Texas at Austin to address one of the most pressing issues in modern entertainment.
The two stars, who previously worked together on the sci-fi epic Interstellar, urged the younger generation of creators to prepare for a future where artificial intelligence is a permanent fixture.
McConaughey was particularly blunt about the situation, noting that the technology is already deeply embedded in the industry and that simply resisting it on ethical grounds is a losing strategy.
He warned the audience that sitting on the sidelines to make a moral plea that the technology is wrong is a tactic that is not gonna last. According to the Oscar winner, the financial incentives and productivity gains associated with AI are far too significant for studios to ignore.
Instead of passive protest, he encouraged young artists to take legal control of their personal brands, telling them to own themselves by trademarking their voices and likenesses to ensure they aren’t stolen as the tech evolves.
McConaughey even speculated about a future where AI characters might be hired for private events or become a standard part of film award ceremonies. He pondered whether the industry would eventually introduce new categories like the best AI film or the best AI actor within the next five years.
While he admitted that the blurring of reality is both exciting and scary, his primary advice remained focused on personal agency and making sure creators have the power to say no when technology begins to trespass.
Timothée Chalamet echoed these sentiments, suggesting that while the burden of ethically integrating this technology falls on Gen Z, current stars have a duty to protect the industry’s future.
He expressed a sense of fatalism regarding the arrival of AI, comparing the current resistance to the historical pushback against the introduction of sound or color in cinema. Chalamet noted that while he is fiercely protective of actors, he recognizes that whatever tide is coming, it’s coming.
As of this year, both actors are reaching new heights in their respective careers. Chalamet is currently a frontrunner in the Best Actor category at the upcoming Oscars for his role in Marty Supreme, a stylized sports biopic directed by Josh Safdie. He is also preparing for the release of Dune: Messiah, the highly anticipated conclusion to Denis Villeneuve’s trilogy, where he will reprise his role as Paul Atreides.
Between his award-season run for Marty Supreme and his duties as a producer on several upcoming indie projects, Chalamet has become one of the most influential voices for his generation in Hollywood.
Beyond their film work, McConaughey continues his work as a professor of practice at UT Austin, where he teaches 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 landscape he discussed at the town hall.
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