Seth Rogen says if 'your instinct is to use AI' to write scripts, 'you shouldn’t be a writer'

CANNES, FRANCE: Actor and filmmaker Seth Rogen criticized the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in screenwriting while promoting his animated film 'Tangles' at the Cannes Film Festival in an interview with Brut on Thursday, May 14.

Rogen’s comments added to the ongoing debate in Hollywood over AI’s role in writing, creativity, and the future of jobs in the entertainment industry.

Seth Rogen slams AI use in screenwriting at Cannes Film Festival

While speaking about filmmaking, Seth Rogen said anyone relying on AI to help write scripts “shouldn’t be a writer,” suggesting they should consider a different profession instead. He also dismissed AI-generated clips circulating online that claim to represent the future of filmmaking.

“I don’t understand what it’s supposed to do. Every time I see a video on Instagram that’s like, ‘Hollywood is cooked,’ what follows is, like, the most stupid dog shit I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said. “And if your instinct is to use AI and not go through that process, you shouldn’t be a writer, because then you’re not writing.”

Rogen added that he values writing as a creative process and has no interest in tools that reduce that effort. “Go do something else. And if you don’t want to go through the process, you shouldn’t be a writer. The idea of a tool that makes me write less is not appealing to me, because I like writing."

Seth Rogen highlights creative process over AI shortcuts in Hollywood

Rogen also spoke about the wider shift in the entertainment industry as studios and institutions continue to define rules around AI use in film and television. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has already updated guidelines addressing AI in Oscar-eligible work.

He attended Cannes in support of 'Tangles,' which he produced. The film was created entirely through hand-drawn animation, which he said reflects a commitment to human-driven storytelling. “Every frame has a human touch to it, which is great,” he said.

Set in 1999, 'Tangles' follows Sarah, voiced by Abbi Jacobson, as she navigates early adulthood, a new job, and a relationship. The film is based on the memoir by cartoonist Sarah Leavitt.

Rogen, known for co-writing 'Superbad,' 'Pineapple Express,' and 'This Is the End,' has previously supported writers’ strikes and raised concerns about transparency and compensation in Hollywood as AI tools become more common.

“I think the prospect of AI writing film and television is horrific,” he said in an earlier interview, adding his support for unions and fair working conditions in the industry.

Demi Moore takes a more open stance on AI in Hollywood

In contrast, actress Demi Moore offered a more flexible view on AI during a separate appearance at the festival. She said the industry cannot ignore the technology and should instead focus on how to work with it responsibly.

She said, “AI is here, and so, to fight it is to, in a sense, to fight something that is a battle that we will lose.” Moore also pointed to creative possibilities in using AI and encouraged filmmakers to explore its potential rather than reject it outright.