It’s not every day that an acclaimed filmmaker draws a line in the sand so boldly, but Guillermo del Toro, the Oscar-winning director behind gothic masterpieces like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, has done just that. With the release of his highly anticipated adaptation of Frankenstein, which debuted in select theaters on October 17, 2025 and is set for a global Netflix premiere on November 7, del Toro has become the loudest voice in Hollywood’s ongoing debate about artificial intelligence (AI) in the creative process.
In a recent interview with NPR’s "Fresh Air," del Toro was asked about his stance on generative AI—a technology that has taken the tech world by storm and is projected by UN Trade and Development to reach a staggering $4.8 trillion market value by 2033. His response was as clear as it was uncompromising: “AI, particularly generative AI, I am not interested, nor will I ever be interested. I’m 61, and I hope to be able to remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak. … The other day, somebody wrote me an email, said, ‘What is your stance on AI?’ And my answer was very short. I said, ‘I’d rather die.’”
Del Toro’s words have reverberated across the industry, especially as studios like Netflix—producer of his new film—publicly embrace AI as a way to cut costs and increase efficiency. Yet for del Toro, the issue isn’t technology itself, but the human decisions behind it. “My concern is not artificial intelligence, but natural stupidity,” he told NPR. “I think that’s what drives most of the world’s worst features.”
He drew a direct parallel between today’s AI innovators and Victor Frankenstein, the infamous scientist in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel who creates life without considering the consequences. “I did want to have the arrogance of Victor be similar in some ways to the tech bros,” del Toro explained. “He’s kind of blind, creating something without considering the consequences, you know? And I think we have to take a pause and consider where we’re going.” According to Business Insider, del Toro’s intent was to make Victor Frankenstein a mirror for the unchecked hubris he sees in Silicon Valley’s leading figures.
During the interview, del Toro didn’t mince words about the limitations of AI in art. “Ones and zeros don’t get the alchemy that you get with emotion and experience,” he said. “You get the information, but you don’t get the alchemy of emotion, spirituality and feeling. I’m not saying it’s impossible to replicate. But we have it readily available with the next generation of children.” For del Toro, art without the human touch is, quite simply, meaningless.
This isn’t the first time del Toro has spoken out about technology’s encroachment on creativity. At a recent special screening of Frankenstein in New York City on October 20, he reportedly declared, “fuck AI!”—a blunt rallying cry that drew both applause and debate. As reported by Deadline, his stance has become a symbol for those in Hollywood who fear that the rise of generative AI could threaten not only jobs, but the very soul of storytelling.
Del Toro’s comparison of tech leaders like Sam Altman and Elon Musk to Victor Frankenstein is more than rhetorical flourish. It’s a pointed criticism of what he sees as blind ambition—an industry racing ahead with AI development, often without adequate consideration for ethical or societal consequences. “It’s the humans who use the technology without considering the consequences,” del Toro said, underscoring his belief that machines aren’t the villains; people are.
These anxieties are not unfounded. The film industry has been grappling with AI’s potential to disrupt established practices for years. The 2023 Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes, for example, placed AI regulation at the forefront of labor negotiations. Unions demanded, and ultimately secured, new contractual guardrails to protect against studios using AI to replace human writers or digitally replicate actors’ likenesses. According to ZoomBangla, creators continue to worry about job displacement and the devaluation of human artistry, even as some studios tout AI’s promise for efficiency and innovation.
Del Toro’s philosophy stands in stark contrast to the current of automation sweeping through creative industries. He champions what he calls the “irreplaceable value of the human hand and spirit in storytelling.” For a filmmaker renowned for practical effects and meticulous craftsmanship, this is more than mere nostalgia—it's a core principle. “Art makes no sense after losing the human touch,” he told Beebom, emphasizing that his own creative freedom is non-negotiable, no matter how advanced AI becomes.
His new adaptation of Frankenstein serves as both a warning and a meditation on technological hubris. The film’s themes—of unchecked ambition, the unintended consequences of creation, and the yearning for connection—resonate powerfully in an era where technology can seem both miraculous and menacing. Del Toro’s decision not to use any AI in the making of the film, despite Netflix’s public commitment to the technology, is a testament to his convictions. When asked directly by NPR’s Terry Gross if he had used AI in production, del Toro replied, “I’d rather die.”
Del Toro’s outspoken views have also intersected with broader political and cultural debates. He has previously criticized the rise of far-right movements, signed open letters against book bans, and spoken out about humanitarian issues. But on the subject of AI, his message is simple and universal: art must remain a fundamentally human endeavor.
As the AI market continues its meteoric rise and Hollywood navigates its uncertain future, del Toro’s stance offers a rallying point for those who fear the loss of authenticity in art. Whether or not the industry heeds his warnings, his commitment to human creativity over technological convenience is sure to inspire debate—and perhaps a bit of soul-searching—among artists and audiences alike.
With Frankenstein now in theaters and set for its Netflix release on November 7, Guillermo del Toro’s creative vision—and his passionate defense of the human touch—stands as a timely reminder of what’s at stake in the age of AI.
