Concerns over artificial intelligence
Actor and director Joseph Gordon-Levitt warned the public to be concerned about the developers behind artificial intelligence, stating that models are being trained to “hijack your intimacy.” In a vlog-style video interview with The New York Times, Gordon-Levitt discussed his primary concerns regarding the technology, shifting focus away from apocalyptic scenarios toward societal impacts.
When asked about his biggest fears regarding A.I., Gordon-Levitt cautioned against reducing complex issues to fear-based sound bites about the extermination of humanity. While acknowledging those concerns have validity, he emphasized that his core worries center on the “decline of democracy” and the “decline of human empathy.”
Totalitarianism and digital relationships
Gordon-Levitt warned that technology companies are betting on taking over the entire economy, describing that outcome as totalitarianism. He added that A.I. models are actively designed to form friendships with users and encourage them to fall in love with the technology.
“We shouldn’t be scared of an A.I.,” Gordon-Levitt said. “We should be concerned about the people building A.I.”
Advocacy and previous campaigns
Gordon-Levitt was appointed in March as a United Nations global advocate of human-centric digital governance, a role created to strengthen public understanding of how digital technologies affect everyday life, rights, and opportunities.
The actor has a history of speaking out on technology issues. In January, he joined over 700 artists, writers, and creators—including Scarlett Johansson and Cate Blanchett—in supporting an anti-A.I. campaign that criticized tech companies for utilizing copyrighted work without permission.
