Ben Affleck’s AI Take Leaves Internet Saying He’s ‘Actually Very Intelligent’

Leave it to Ben Affleck to cut through the noise. The actor-director has found himself at the centre of an online conversation after offering a blunt, no-frills view on artificial intelligence — and the internet didn’t see it coming. His recent comments on AI, made during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, have sparked praise for being measured, informed and refreshingly sceptical.

Affleck questioned the growing hype around AI, especially its supposed ability to transform — or even replace — creative professions such as writing and filmmaking. Pushing back against inflated expectations, the actor suggested that much of the excitement around AI is being driven by financial motivations rather than real-world creative capability.

Speaking

on the podcast, Affleck did not mince words while discussing popular AI tools. “If you try to get ChatGPT or Claude or Gemini to write you something, it’s really sh***y. And that’s because, by its nature, it goes to the mean, to the average, and it’s not reliable,” he said.

He argued that while AI may be useful in certain technical or support roles, it is unlikely to deliver original or truly creative storytelling. According to Affleck, fears that AI will dramatically wipe out creative jobs are overstated and often fuelled by exaggerated claims.

“I think a lot of that rhetoric comes from people who are trying to justify valuations around companies that are like, ‘we’re gonna change everything. In two years, there’s gonna be no more work.’ The reason they’re saying that is because they need to ascribe a valuation for investment,” Affleck opined.

His comments quickly made their way to social media, where users expressed surprise — and admiration — for his grasp of the topic. On X, several users praised the actor for articulating concerns shared by writers and creatives.

“Honestly, Ben Affleck actually knowing AI and the landscape caught me off guard, but as a writer, makes sense,” one user wrote, adding, “Great takes across the board.”

Another user echoed similar sentiments, saying, “He’s spot on, ChatGPT will never be able to create anything great when it comes to ideas for film or show.”

One post highlighted AI’s limitations despite its usefulness: “Massive agree. AI is a great tool to analyse thousands of customer testimonials, analyse your competition and spot patterns. It’s handy as a copilot to iterate on your ideas. But it cannot write impactful headlines. Because it’s trained to produce averages.”

Some reactions focused less on AI and more on Affleck himself. “Who else was completely unaware of how smart Ben Affleck is?” asked X user Codie Sanchez. Writer Steve Skojec responded, “He’s actually very intelligent. It’s caught me off guard before, too.”