George Lucas says rejecting AI is like rejecting cars in favour of horses: ‘There’s nothing you can do about it… it’s the future’
George Lucas has shared his perspective on artificial intelligence adoption in entertainment, arguing that resistance to the technology is futile. In an interview with A Rabbit’s Foot (via Kotaku), the filmmaker compared rejecting AI to refusing automobiles in favor of horses, characterizing technological progress as inevitable.
Lucas addressed criticism from fellow directors who oppose AI implementation, noting that many of his colleagues on the Film Foundation—an organization dedicated to preserving classic cinema—refuse to embrace digital technology. He cited specific examples of filmmakers refusing to work with digital formats, citing the use of film for classic productions like Lawrence of Arabia.
His comments come approximately one year after Lucasfilm, the production company bearing his name, drew criticism for using AI-generated imagery for alien characters, an incident that Lucas appears to be contextualizing within a broader discussion of technological inevitability.
Lucas’s stance suggests a pragmatic acceptance of AI’s role in future entertainment production, framing the debate as less about whether the technology will be adopted and more about how creators choose to respond to its integration into the industry. His perspective reflects a generational view of technological disruption as an unstoppable force rather than a choice to be made by individual creators.