Jared Leto, the Oscar-winning actor and lead singer of Thirty Seconds to Mars, has entered the competitive world of artificial intelligence investments. Leto recently invested in Captions, a generative AI startup, joining prominent venture capitalists like Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, and Adobe. According to Bloomberg, Captions raised $60 million in new investments, reaching a valuation of $500 million. This investment marks Leto’s second venture into AI startups this year, following his investment in Pika, a company that generates short videos from written prompts, images, or videos.
Leto’s interest in AI contrasts sharply with the stance of many of his Hollywood peers. Generative AI has been a controversial topic, especially in light of recent writers and actors’ strikes where AI technology was a significant point of contention.
Hollywood’s Mixed Reactions to AI Investments
While Leto’s investment in AI startups like Captions and Pika highlights a growing trend among celebrities, it has also sparked a significant backlash. Many in Hollywood, including renowned actors and musicians, have voiced strong opposition to the integration of AI into the entertainment industry. Leonardo DiCaprio, for example, serves as a strategic adviser for Regeneration VC, which recently invested $1.6 million in Greyparrot, an AI recycling company. DiCaprio’s focus on environmental AI contrasts with the broader industry’s concerns about AI’s impact on jobs and creativity.
Robert Downey Jr. has also entered the AI investment arena with his Footprint Coalition, launched at an AI conference hosted by Amazon in 2019. The coalition’s environmental focus led to an investment in ClimateAI, a company pioneering AI applications to address climate change. This alignment with environmental causes underscores a different approach to AI investment compared to the broader entertainment sector’s apprehension.
Celebrity Criticism and Calls for Regulation
Despite these high-profile investments, many celebrities have expressed deep concerns about the potential negative impacts of AI on the creative industry. Ashton Kutcher, co-founder of the investing firm Sound Venture, faced significant backlash after praising OpenAI’s generative video tool, Sora. Kutcher’s comments about AI’s potential to revolutionize film production by reducing costs and enabling individuals to create their own movies were met with criticism for seemingly advocating the replacement of crew members and actors.
In response to the backlash, Kutcher clarified his stance on social media, emphasizing that AI should be viewed as a tool to enhance productivity rather than a replacement for creative professionals. “Jobs will change, denying that is turning a blind eye to facts,” Kutcher wrote. He highlighted the importance of preparing for technological advancements and integrating them responsibly into the industry.
Other celebrities have taken more proactive steps to address their concerns about AI. In April, over 200 musicians, including Katy Perry and Miranda Lambert, signed a letter demanding that AI developers and technology companies cease using AI in ways that infringe upon artists’ rights. The letter, submitted by the Artist Rights Alliance, called for responsible use of AI to advance human creativity without undermining the value of human artists.
The Ongoing Debate Over AI in Hollywood
The debate over AI’s role in Hollywood continues to intensify. Justine Bateman, known for her role in “Family Ties,” has been particularly vocal about her opposition to AI in the entertainment industry. Bateman argues that AI does not address any existing problems in Hollywood, such as a shortage of writers or actors. Instead, she believes that technology should be used to solve real human problems, and AI’s encroachment into creative fields does not meet this criterion.
As the industry grapples with the implications of AI, figures like Leto remain committed to exploring the potential benefits of the technology. Leto’s investments in Captions and Pika signal a belief in AI’s transformative potential, despite the controversies surrounding its use. The division among celebrities reflects broader societal debates about the ethical and practical implications of AI, particularly in creative and professional domains.
While some, like Leto and Kutcher, advocate for embracing AI as a tool for innovation, others call for caution and regulation to protect the rights and livelihoods of creative professionals. As AI continues to evolve, the entertainment industry’s response will likely shape the future of creativity and technology in significant ways.
