Seth Rogen Calls Out AI Use in Scriptwriting at Cannes

During a Cannes-Film-Festival interview with Brut, actor-producer Seth Rogen said writers who rely on artificial-intelligence tools “shouldn’t be a writer.” He expressed confusion about AI’s purpose and dismissed viral videos claiming “Hollywood is cooked” as “the most stupid dog shit I’ve ever seen in my life.” Rogen emphasized his preference for the traditional writing process, stating that a tool that reduces his writing effort “is not appealing” because he enjoys writing. He added that anyone unwilling to endure the writing process should consider a different occupation.

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AI technology is already influencing the entertainment sector. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently revised its eligibility rules to curb the use of AI in acting performances that could qualify for Oscar nominations. The policy change reflects broader industry concerns about how generative AI might affect creative authorship and credit attribution.

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• Seth Rogen – Four-time Emmy winner, actor, producer, and vocal critic of AI-assisted scriptwriting.

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• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Governing body that announced the AI-related rule updates.

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• “Tangles” – Animated feature produced by Rogen, directed by Leah Nelson, with a voice cast that includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Abbi Jacobson, Bryan Cranston, Sarah Silverman, Bowen Yang, Wanda Sykes, Beanie Feldstein, and Samira Wiley. Rogen attended Cannes in support of the film.

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• Rogen’s career includes four Emmy awards.

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• The Academy’s new regulations specifically target AI-generated acting performances for Oscar eligibility, marking the first formal industry-wide restriction on AI use in a major awards context.

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Rogen’s public rejection of AI tools underscores a tension between traditional craftsmanship and emerging technologies. If prominent creators adopt a similar stance, studios may face pressure to limit AI integration in screenplay development, potentially preserving established writing workflows. Conversely, the Academy’s rule changes signal institutional willingness to intervene when AI threatens established standards of artistic credit.

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Rogen’s interview conveyed a clear message: AI should not replace the writer’s creative labor, and reliance on such tools disqualifies individuals from the writer’s profession. The Academy, meanwhile, issued a policy brief outlining its crackdown on AI-generated acting performances, indicating that any such work will be ineligible for Oscar consideration. Both positions reflect a defensive posture toward preserving human authorship in film and television.

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• “shouldn’t be a writer,” — Seth Rogen, Actor/Producer

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• “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,” — Seth Rogen

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• “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

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• “The idea of a tool that makes me write less is not appealing to me, because I like writing,” he said.” — Seth Rogen

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The sources provide Rogen’s perspective and the Academy’s policy update but do not include quantitative data on how many writers currently use AI tools, nor do they present counter-arguments from proponents of AI-assisted screenwriting. This absence limits a full assessment of industry adoption rates and the spectrum of professional opinion.

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The debate over AI’s role in script development is expected to continue as studios experiment with generative tools. Future industry forums, guild negotiations, and possible legislative measures may further define the boundaries of AI use in creative writing. The Academy’s policy may also be refined as AI capabilities evolve.

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