Entertainment · Film · 2 hrs ago
Travis Knight Says Generative AI Should Not Replace Artists
Wildwood director and Laika CEO Travis Knight says he opposes generative AI replacing artists.
He shared his views at the film’s U.S. premiere at AFI Fest.
Knight says technology can help artists, but should not do their work for them.
He argues that computers cannot express human feelings and that AI-generated work lacks the human quality of art made by people.
His comments come amid concerns about AI copying artists’ work and threatening jobs.
Wildwood is a stop-motion fantasy film that took 16 years to complete, and Knight says the human effort behind stop motion is part of its value.
He hopes people will use AI responsibly and push back against its dangers.
Travis Knight said generative AI should not take the place of artists.
The “Wildwood” director and Laika CEO described generative AI as antithetical to the studio’s work.
Knight said technology can help artists amplify their voices, but objected to computers doing artists’ work.
He warned that AI-generated work lacks human feeling and said he was not embracing the technology.
Knight also said AI could benefit medicine and science if people use it responsibly.
- Who
- Travis Knight, director of “Wildwood” and Laika CEO.
- What
- He said generative AI should not replace artists and that he was not embracing it.
- When
- He made the comments at AFI Fest’s “Wildwood” premiere on Wednesday night; the articles were published October 22, 2026.
- Where
- AFI Fest’s opening night U.S. premiere of “Wildwood”; the sources do not state the city.
- Why
- He said technology is useful when it supports artists, but generative AI is a concern when it supplants them and lacks human experience.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Knight said it took 16 years to complete “Wildwood.
Knight discussed AI at AFI Fest’s opening night U.S. premiere of “Wildwood.
Deadline and Variety published reports on Knight’s comments.
- Film
- Wildwood
- Director and Laika CEO
- Travis Knight
- Completion time
- 16 years
- Event
- AFI Fest opening night U.S. premiere
- Published
- October 22, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
I’m not embracing it at all
is antithetical to everything that we are at this studio
Technology is not useful when it takes the place of the artist, and that’s the concern with generative AI
I hope for the former, but it requires people to be good stewards of this technology
Posts on X
“Wildwood” director Travis Knight calls AI an “amazing piece of technology” but says, “I’m not embracing it at all.” “I see technology as a tool, and we use technology at Laika. A pencil is technology, a paintbrush is technology, a 3D printer is technology. Technology is useful