Around mid-afternoon at the SXSW conference in Austin, an unexpected burst of anti-AI sentiment swept through the audience, earning a meaningful round of applause. Award-winning filmmakers and visionary minds, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known collectively as “DANIELS,” made a profound impact on the audience during their panel discussion on the future of storytelling.
Originally debuting their groundbreaking film “Everything Everywhere All At Once” at SXSW in 2022, DANIELS went on to claim an impressive seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay awards.
The duo shared their thoughts on the inevitable rise of artificial intelligence and how to approach this rapidly advancing technology. While acknowledging its potential to be both “amazing” and “terrifying,” Kwan and Scheinert urged the audience to consider the impact AI will have on society and the value of human worth.
Kwan elaborated on the current state of modern capitalism, where individuals are mostly driven by work to sustain themselves and their value is measured by their job.
“In this system, we’ve been conditioned to believe that our worth is solely based on what we can do,” Kwan explained to the captivated audience. “We are no longer beings with inherent value. But this mindset makes it nearly impossible to find true fulfillment in a society that thrives on unfulfilled individuals.”
As the crowd erupted into cheers, Kwan segued into the topic of AI, evoking thunderous applause in response to its mention.
“It’s no secret that many people are enamored with AI,” Kwan stated, smiling at the enthusiastic response. “And I agree, it’s like magic. It’s a powerful tool that has the potential to solve complex issues like cancer and climate change.”
However, Kwan also addressed the fear and dread surrounding AI, cautioning that its rapid integration into society may come at a high cost.
“My biggest fear is the new narrative we will have to tell ourselves in order to justify this convenience and progress,” Kwan expressed, with a noticeable shift in tone. “We live in a system that has brought us immense issues like climate change, income inequality, and a lack of appreciation for ourselves and others. I shudder to think about the impact AI will have on this already flawed system.”
Kwan acknowledged that even those who may not lose their jobs to AI will still see a decrease in their value and worth as individuals.
“Even if jobs aren’t lost, job value will diminish. It will happen gradually till we are desensitized to it,” he warned.
He then referenced the influence of social media on our society, initially intended to connect individuals, but instead causing feelings of isolation and loneliness.
But with AI, Kwan believes there is still hope to rewrite the narrative and reshape society for a better tomorrow.
Scheinert chimed in, highlighting the importance of understanding the reason behind the use of AI.
“Are we utilizing AI to create the world we truly want to live in? To enhance our lives and focus on what truly matters? Or are we simply enabling it to serve the interests of the wealthy?,” Scheinert posed to the audience. “If someone tells you there are no negative consequences to AI, don’t believe them. It’s a dangerous line of thinking, and we must carefully consider its deployment.”
The crowd could not contain their agreement and erupted into a prolonged applause, echoing the filmmakers’ concerns about the unbridled use of AI.
Kwan revisited the idea of conflicting emotions towards AI and surviving in a world where technology is omnipresent.
“Why does using AI feel so wrong?” Kwan contemplated, pausing for a moment before answering. “We must remember the true purpose of art and storytelling. Every story told is an act of salvation, a means to preserve our value and the value of those we care about in a world that seeks to devalue us.”
With that, the filmmakers left the audience with much to ponder and consider about the future of AI and humanity’s role in it.
