Gareth Edwards on Why AI Will Surpass CGI in Filmmaking

Director Gareth Edwards of "The Creator" and the upcoming "Jurassic World: Rebirth" spoke at Amazon AI on the Lot conference in California and openly supported the use of generative AI in cinematography. His statements resonated throughout Hollywood, where attitudes toward AI remain full of contradictions.

How Edwards sees AI's place in cinematography

The director's position was categorical and clear: generative AI is a tool on the level of a film camera, without exaggeration or speculation. He directly stated that he sees no reason why a professional director would not want to use this technology in their work. Edwards emphasized that AI is capable of fulfilling virtually any creative request and already surpasses traditional CGI in result quality and production speed. At the conference, the director called AI a genius assistant in the work of a cinematographer, using expressive language to convey his enthusiasm. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he elaborated on his thought, comparing AI to other revolutionary technologies that once seemed impossible in the industry:

"I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be interested in this.

It's clearly a tool that sits in the same category as a camera. It will be better than CGI."

What specifically changes in film production

A statement from a director of Edwards' caliber is not simply one person's opinion; it's a significant signal for the entire industry. When star directors begin publicly speaking about AI as an evolution of tools rather than a threat, it changes how the technology is perceived in studios, among producers, and investors. Traditional CGI requires months of painstaking work, complex software, and large specialized teams. AI, according to Edwards' logic, can accelerate the entire process many times over, give directors creative freedom, and allow them to experiment almost in real time without significant budget losses. This could radically change the economics of film production.

Specific advantages that Edwards sees:

• Acceleration of special effects creation from months to days or weeks
• Faster iteration over visual concepts right on the set
• Reduction of costs for expensive traditional CGI and lengthy rendering
• Ability to experiment with scripts and effects in real time without rework
• Expansion of a director's creative possibilities without technical limitations of software packages

Why this matters right now

Edwards spoke at an event organized by Amazon — a company actively investing in AI for media and film. His support is no accident: it's part of a broader trend where major studios and directors are beginning to integrate AI into their workflows. Over the past year, several Hollywood projects have experimented with AI for creating backgrounds, improving compositing, and other auxiliary elements, with mixed success. However, there are real concerns in the industry among directors and cinematographers about how AI will affect jobs, creative rights, and authorship. Edwards' position is an attempt to reframe the discussion: not replacement of humans, but expansion of their toolset and creative possibilities.

What this means for the film industry

When major Hollywood directors begin speaking about AI as their assistant and tool, it means the technology has stopped being an experiment and has become practical reality. For cinematography, this could mean a revolution in how special effects are created, how directors work with virtual worlds, and how films are produced in general. Edwards essentially gives the green light for AI implementation across the industry — and this voice will be heard in meetings with investors and producers.