Jenna Ortega Says AI May Reduce Films to “Mental Junk Food”

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While at the Marrakech Film Festival as a jury member, Jenna Ortega spoke out about her concerns regarding artificial intelligence.

The actor recently shared her concerns about artificial intelligence, telling reporters she finds its rapid development in the film industry unsettling. She likened it to historical instances of unchecked progress, admitting she’s “terrified” by the deep uncertainty it creates. She also expressed that adopting AI feels like unleashing something uncontrollable, comparing it to opening Pandora’s box – a situation where a problem, once started, is impossible to stop.

Despite her concerns, Ortega expressed hope that the industry could find a silver lining in the current situation. She thinks challenges can inspire artists to be bolder and more innovative. She emphasized that true art comes from being human, stating, “There’s beauty in struggle and in imperfection, and a computer can’t replicate that. It lacks the human spirit.”

Jenna Ortega has expressed concerns about the increasing use of AI in filmmaking. She hopes audiences will eventually reject AI-generated content, comparing it to ‘mental junk food’ that leaves them feeling unwell. She believes that, ironically, people might need to be temporarily without something to truly appreciate it.

— Variety (@Variety) November 29, 2025

I found her take on AI in entertainment particularly interesting. She’s hoping it ultimately becomes like a fleeting guilty pleasure – something audiences enjoy for a bit, but eventually lose interest in. She described it as wanting AI to become, essentially, ‘mental junk food,’ and I think that’s a surprisingly apt analogy. It’s a hopeful outlook, but also a pretty direct one – she doesn’t seem to think AI will fundamentally change things for the better in the long run.

As a total film buff, I was really intrigued by what director Bong Joon Ho – who’s heading up the festival jury this year – had to say about AI. He actually agreed with the concerns raised, suggesting it could push us to really think about what makes human creativity special. But then, he cracked a joke about starting a full-on AI takedown squad! He said, with a laugh, he’d ‘organize a military squad whose mission is to destroy AI all over the world.’ It was a funny moment, but it definitely highlighted the serious questions everyone’s grappling with.

The jury includes actors and filmmakers like Anya Taylor-Joy, Celine Song, Julia Ducournau, Karim Aïnouz, Hakim Belabbes, and Payman Maadi. Celine Song was particularly outspoken about artificial intelligence, quoting Guillermo del Toro with a strong statement against it. She believes AI is damaging to the environment and changes how we experience the world.

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2025-11-29 19:47