Kathleen Kennedy Highlights Transparency as Essential for Easing AI Adoption Among Cautious Creatives, But What’s the Best Way to Teach Taste?

Kathleen Kennedy Advocates for AI Transparency in Creative Industries

Producer Kathleen Kennedy, known for her work at Lucasfilm, described herself as both a tech optimist and a traditionalist during a recent conference in New York City. Speaking at the Runway AI Summit, Kennedy emphasized the need for greater transparency in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the creative community.

Kennedy acknowledged the cautious attitude many creative professionals hold towards AI. "Many in the creative community are inherently suspicious of AI," she said during a Q&A session with Cristóbal Valenzuela, co-founder and co-CEO of Runway. "There’s a lot of people trying to experiment because it’s so accessible, but I don’t know to what extent they’re experimenting as deeply as they might be." She noted that a key barrier to broader acceptance of AI is the lack of clarity regarding how the technology is trained and deployed.

“People feel that there’s a lot they don’t know about what’s going on,” Kennedy added. She highlighted that discussions around AI training processes remain opaque, fueling hesitation among creatives. “When there’s more transparency in those discussions, I think that will help greatly.”

Kennedy’s participation in the summit reflected her longstanding interest in the intersection of technology and film throughout her 50-year career. "I always feel a sense of optimism around using the technology to solve the problem," she remarked. Her enthusiasm is tempered, however, by a focus on the emotional and human aspects of filmmaking. "Emotional storytelling, taste, and education are still firmly in the human domain,” she stated.

As Kennedy continues her work on Lucasfilm’s upcoming projects, including The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter, she recognizes AI as a valuable tool in the filmmaking process. She noted its utility in production aspects like previsualization, planning, and budgeting. “Once you get into execution,” she explained, “there’s an exchange of understanding and common knowledge, and AI tools may help with that process.”

Despite these advantages, Kennedy conveyed that the essence of storytelling hinges on human creativity and emotional depth. "The strongest, emotional storytelling is the most difficult thing to get right,” she said.

A recurring theme in Kennedy’s reflections is the challenge of teaching taste within creative processes. “Taste is so fundamental to the process of creating things,” she remarked. She highlighted the importance of education and experience, especially when collaborating with artists from diverse backgrounds.

Kennedy drew on her experiences producing iconic films, recalling the practical effects techniques used in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and the evolutionary steps taken during the making of Jurassic Park. “We were ready to do a movie like Jurassic Park,” she said, recounting conversations with George Lucas about technological advancements that drastically changed filmmaking possibilities.

In conclusion, Kennedy’s insights at the Runway AI Summit underscore the delicate balance between embracing technological innovation and honoring the traditional imperatives of storytelling and artistic integrity in filmmaking.