Martin Scorsese’s promotion of AI company called a ‘betrayal’ by director’s union

Martin Scorsese, known for films like *Raging Bull* and *Goodfellas*, joined AI startup Black Forest Labs as an advisor and endorsed generative AI for filmmaking in a video posted last week. He emphasized AI’s potential to enhance storytelling, particularly in storyboarding, stating that cinema remains a young medium open to evolution. The Art Directors Guild Local 800, an IATSE union chapter, condemned Scorsese in an open letter, calling his support for AI a betrayal of artists who collaborate on films. The guild argued that generative AI replicates work built on stolen or uncredited copyrighted material, undermining professional contributions from art directors, illustrators, and production designers. Scorsese’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment, though he clarified to *The New York Times* that his focus was on AI’s role in preproduction, not replacing human creativity. The director has long relied on hand-drawn storyboards, acknowledging the challenge of translating visions to cast and crew. The guild’s letter highlighted concerns that AI tools, trained on copyrighted works, could replace human artists without fair compensation. It framed Scorsese’s endorsement as a threat to the collaborative nature of filmmaking, where artists contribute original work to projects. Scorsese’s Oscar-winning career, including wins for *The Departed* and nominations for *The Irishman*, contrasts with the guild’s criticism of his AI advocacy. The debate underscores tensions between technological innovation and the ethical treatment of creative labor in the film industry.