TLDR: Britt Lower, known for her role in ‘Severance,’ remains optimistic about the future of human talent in Hollywood despite the rise of generative AI. She believes that while AI can serve as a valuable tool for storytellers, it cannot replicate the unique human elements of performance, such as curiosity, connection, and creative instinct. Lower emphasizes that acting is a two-way street, involving organic, responsive interactions that algorithms cannot fully capture.
In an era where generative artificial intelligence is sparking both intrigue and concern within Hollywood, Britt Lower, the acclaimed actress from ‘Severance,’ offers a grounded perspective on the industry’s future. In a recent cover feature with The Hollywood Reporter, Lower articulated her belief that synthetic tools can be beneficial aids for storytellers but are incapable of replacing the essential human element that imbues performance with life. Rather than fearing obsolescence, she asserts that traits like curiosity, connection, and creative instinct are inherently human and irreplaceable.
Lower’s confidence stems from her understanding of the nuanced nature of acting. She views synthetic performance as a clash of value sets, stating that while algorithms can reproduce shape and sound, they ‘lack the history, danger of risk, and related responsiveness that can be generated only through human performance.‘ She drew a parallel to watching someone walk a tightrope, noting, ‘Whenever I think about the way I feel watching someone walk across a tightrope, I don’t feel nervous about AI.‘ Her off-screen training in small-tent circuses and improv has reinforced her conviction that acting is a dynamic, two-way street—a continuous process of listening and responding to another human being. She highlights the subtle, yet profound, moments in a scene, such as taking a deep breath or holding a glance, which organically develop from experience and collective memory and cannot be replicated by data.
While Lower acknowledges the practical applications of technology, such as enhancing editing efficiency, providing visual alternatives, and assisting with cleanup work, she draws a clear distinction between using AI as a tool and allowing it to usurp creative authorship. She firmly advocates that creative authorship must remain comprehensively human, with digital support serving as an aid to human decisions, not a substitute.
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Lower’s optimism is coupled with a pragmatic outlook on how the film industry can navigate this technological shift. She suggests that establishing clear ground rules for AI’s use is crucial. The future, she believes, will be a hybrid one, not an ‘either/or’ scenario. Discussions include implementing a just credit system for synthetic assets, ensuring transparent negotiations before recreating an artist’s representation, and providing training for artists to learn how to manipulate prompts, empowering them as creators rather than mere products.
