Nigerian filmmaker Akay Mason has said artificial intelligence-generated films cannot replace human actors because they lack the emotional connection and depth audiences get from real-life performances.

Mason made the assertion in a post shared on X on Friday while commenting on the growing use of artificial intelligence in the film industry.

According to the filmmaker, AI-generated films may be technically impressive but often fail to create the emotional bond that comes from watching human actors portray characters.

He said, “AI films will fail. Every AI short film I’ve seen lacks the emotional connection we instinctively feel when watching actual humans perform.

It just feels empty.”Mason also linked the popularity of human actors to celebrity culture, noting that audiences often develop strong emotional attachments to stars and the characters they portray.

He argued that AI-generated characters could struggle to command the same level of admiration because audiences know they are created through computer codes rather than human performances.

The filmmaker, however, acknowledged that artificial intelligence could be useful in certain aspects of filmmaking.He noted that filmmakers are already using AI to assist with tasks such as visual effects, lighting and sound correction.

Mason added that he had also used ChatGPT to correct grammatical errors in his social media post, stressing that the technology could serve as a useful filmmaking tool when applied appropriately.

Despite the growing adoption of AI across the creative industry, Mason maintained that artificial intelligence actors cannot replicate the emotional essence of a human performance.

He said the core of acting involves expressing human emotions and experiences, something he believes AI cannot fully reproduce.

The debate over AI and the future of filmmaking has continued to grow as filmmakers, actors and other creative professionals examine the opportunities and potential threats posed by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence technology.

While AI is increasingly being used to support production processes, concerns remain over its potential impact on actors, writers, filmmakers and other creative workers.

Mason’s comments add to the growing conversation over whether AI should complement human creativity or eventually take over some roles traditionally performed by people.