Tom Cruise Says AI Is Coming, But Audiences Still Want ‘Real Things’

LONDON — September 22, 2026 — Tom Cruise says artificial intelligence will inevitably become part of filmmaking, but he does not believe technology can replace the human element audiences look for when they go to the movies.

Speaking at a BAFTA “Life in Pictures” conversation in London, Cruise was asked how AI could affect an industry that has increasingly embraced new filmmaking technologies. His response was direct: “There is nothing like human,” according to Variety.

Cruise acknowledged that AI is coming and that its influence on filmmaking is likely to grow. But rather than predicting the end of traditional cinema, he argued that audiences still want authentic experiences and human creativity.

“People want that experience. They’re going to movie theatres,” Cruise said, describing theatrical cinema as a different art form from streaming. He also urged filmmakers and other creatives to continue working rather than retreating in response to technological change.

Key points

• Cruise accepts that AI is coming: He said artificial intelligence will become part of the film industry.
• He emphasized human creativity: Cruise argued that “there is nothing like human” when discussing the future of filmmaking.
• He defended the theatrical experience: He said going to a cinema offers a distinct experience that streaming does not replicate.
• His comments came during a BAFTA career conversation: The London event covered his four-decade career as well as his upcoming film Digger.

The timing of Cruise’s comments is significant. Hollywood is already confronting questions about AI-generated performances, digital characters and the use of artificial intelligence in production. NME likewise reported that Cruise believes AI is inevitable but does not mean cinema has to lose its human character.

Cruise also discussed Digger, his upcoming film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Variety reports that Cruise plays a wealthy oil tycoon in the movie and said the production required extensive prosthetic makeup, initially taking about six hours to apply. Digger is scheduled to reach theaters on October 2 through Warner Bros.

For Cruise, the message was not that filmmaking should reject technology. Instead, his comments suggest that as AI becomes more common, the industry’s challenge will be preserving the human creativity and shared theatrical experience that he believes audiences continue to value.

Sources: Variety, Deadline, NME.