Werner Herzog on AI: Balancing Innovation and Humanity

The legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog spoke about the potential of artificial intelligence during his appearance on the Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast. He acknowledges that AI opens incredible horizons for science and the creative industries, but at the same time warns: the tools of the future could devalue humanity where it matters most.

Herzog emphasizes that it’s not worth completely devaluing the role of artificial intelligence: it can serve as a useful tool for research and new discoveries. But even now he notices how AI is starting to influence military developments, and that raises concerns about a future war with a new “face” of high technology.

The director also expresses doubts about the value of works created purely by algorithms: stories and acting may exist, but they have no soul.

The Truth, Technology, and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

“AI, I don’t want to completely devalue it, for it has brilliant, majestic possibilities. Yet at the same time it is already moving to take the lead in warfare. It will be the predominant face of warfare in the future.”

Herzog shares his experience: he has seen films and short films entirely created by artificial intelligence – plot, acting, everything – but they look lifeless. They tell stories, but lack a soul.

“I’ve seen films, short films, entirely created by artificial intelligence. Plot, acting – everything. They look utterly dead. They are stories, but they have no soul. They are hollow and soulless. You know, this is the most common, the lowest common denominator of what fills billions of pieces of information on the Internet. The common denominator, and nothing beyond that denominator, cannot be found in these fictions.”

Herzog also points to how artificial intelligence can generate falsehoods and why it is important to stay vigilant: “And, of course, deception, impersonation, propaganda – all of this is as if an enemy. It exists, and we must stay vigilant.”

“And, of course, deceit, impersonation, propaganda – all of this is as if an enemy. It exists, and we must stay vigilant.”

Ultimately he emphasizes: don’t take everything at face value. If you examine different sources, the conclusion is quite obvious – much of what AI offers may be fabricated.

“Again I say: when you are curious and have access to different sources, you’ll quickly realize that it is invented.”

Herzog also reflects on his stance toward technology: he doesn’t fear it, but keeps a healthy skepticism. He did not own a mobile phone until a certain moment, but when he had to – he bought one, despite a flawed option to retrieve a car from a parking lot. Either way, he emphasizes: everything that comes through a phone or a laptop should be treated with caution and critical attention.

“Anything that comes through your mobile phone or laptop, email, everything – you should disregard, you should doubt.”

According to Herzog, younger people adapt more quickly to new media, while older ones should develop wary instincts – the same survival strategies that once saved our ancestors. For him, truth is not just a fact but an emotion that lives in art and human experience.

“No one knows what truth is.”

In the end, Herzog emphasizes: true truth in art is sometimes more important than dry facts – it arises from the emotions and experiences of people. Artificial intelligence does not grant truth; it merely nudges us to seek it together with human feeling and intellect.

“Emotions sometimes lead us to the truth that facts cannot always convey.”