Danny Boyle at the Venice Film Festival last week Oscar-winning filmmaker Danny Boyle has sparked a lot of conversation on social media after admitting that his new film Ink makes use of generative AI. During a recent interview with Variety, the 28 Years Later director was asked for how he feels about the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the film industry, to which he responded: “It doesn’t really matter what I think about AI. It matters what 20-year-olds think about it, [that’s] the honest truth. “My opinion of it is that it’s a very useful tool, in many ways, provided you use it respectfully, and provided you pay actors, if you’re going to replace them with some kind of AI embodiments or something like that – just like with any animation project or just as part of the VFX toolbox.” He then shared that there’s “about 30 seconds” of AI-generated content in his new film, Ink, which he and his team used to “animate a couple of photographs”. “It’s very good for animals.” ‘Ink’ director Danny Boyle shares his thoughts about the use of AI in film. See more updates from Telluride Film Festival: https://t.co/gxifjEhMrUpic.twitter.com/PNE1u8OFcG — VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) September 5, 2026 “Oh! And there are some [AI-generated] mice,” he added. “[AI is] very good for animals. “I got in trouble with [the animal rights organisation] PETA – we had some chimps at the beginning of 28 Days Later, and they wrote to me and said, ‘you must never do that again’. And I haven’t. “And ever since, I’ve tried to use, you know, [CGI] animals. But AI is very, very good at creating animals, and we’ve got some mice in this one that run around The Sun newsroom.” Over the last few years, AI has become an increasingly polarising issue in the entertainment industry, as it has in many other fields, with the subject being a major factor in the Hollywood strikes of 2023. As a result, as you might imagine, Danny’s comments have generated a lot of debate on social media. Appreciate the transparency. But this is incredibly disappointing, especially for one of my favourite working directors. — Michael Ashton (@mikael_trashton) September 5, 2026 "You pay actors if you're going to replace them..." Did he chip in anything for any animators who lost work? — prawnimation (@Prawnimation) September 7, 2026 So a vfx company lost a week of work animating some mice and small photographs. Got it! 😡 — Glenn Charlie Dunks (@glenndunks) September 6, 2026 I love Danny Boyle, and I think he’s made some really good movies over the years, but him doing this has really disappointed me. — Joshua Gould (@voicearchivist) September 5, 2026 he basically just said he could’ve used cgi to animate the animals but ai is “really good” at it. admitting to making the choice not to pay someone to animate is somehow even more annoying when it’s an extremely wealthy guy saying it https://t.co/RHMC21njDe — laurinha 🦠 (@ecto_fun) September 6, 2026 it shouldn't only matter if actors lose their jobs. think of the graphic designers, the set designers, vfx, makeup, all the people directors often take for granted, why do their jobs not matter to you? https://t.co/tpUmJBJnrk — greg house apologist🇵🇸 (@transgreghouse) September 6, 2026 Danny Boyle drinking the AI Kool-Aid is so disappointing. — LOU💋 (@LouLouLem0n) September 6, 2026 disappointing 🥲 https://t.co/uGdUjymvIz — Leo 🦁 (@wormholxtreme) September 5, 2026 I am sick and tired of filmmakers resorting to AI for completely unnecessary things. https://t.co/wIFSQ0leSP — harv (@harvv) September 5, 2026 Been thinking about this, and: this sucks, BUT in this same video he says PETA (an organization that sucks) wrote him once and he never used an animal in a movie again. If he wants to hear what 20-year-olds think of AI...you can replace 30 seconds of your movie, can't you, Danny? https://t.co/Hv8aszQIJe — Tyler ''pronouns idiot'' Foster 🤖 (@tylergilfoster) September 5, 2026 :/ https://t.co/SJjKjjS0gIpic.twitter.com/3brNb03Inb — zoë rose bryant (@zoerosebryant) September 5, 2026 Well, never mind then. https://t.co/cTqW6K5k8apic.twitter.com/bMcik1uTXd — Matthew “Movies” Thomason (@ThomasonTown) September 5, 2026 In particular, many have pointed out that just days earlier, Danny had been vocal against the threat posed to AI within the journalism world, in which his new movie is set. danny boyle saying he likes AI for “certain things” when he seemed to understand its dangerous impact re: teaching and journalism… is the film industry the next to go, then? what happens when it replaces actors? it’s already replacing writers! what the fuck are we even doing?? — amanda🔫🔻 (@semperrgumby) September 5, 2026 This you *checks notes* four days ago? https://t.co/ilAWqX1AJNpic.twitter.com/SBz5mDeSTw — David Opie (@DavidOpie) September 6, 2026 Danny Boyle criticising generative AI at Venice, after the premiere of his movie that has used generative AI https://t.co/UxVY33X7lqpic.twitter.com/vkpVYgs2kd — Alistair's Great Tweets (@YesitsAlistair) September 4, 2026 “The danger is that the tech giants and their AI will be able to replace journalism,” he told reporters at the Venice Film Festival last week. “They’ll be able to have an AI journalist who’s much more efficient, cheaper. “Will that AI journalist speak truth to that power that’s created it? That’s going to be very tough and interesting.” He continued: “Teachers are another one of those tentpoles that hold up our society, and teachers can be replaced as well by AI. It’s insane what we’re doing. “Where’s the village that we all need? And within that village, there are truth tellers who aren’t popular sometimes because what they say is unpopular. I hope Ink throws up questions like that about the future, what we’re ploughing into.” READ MORE: Dolly Parton's Sister Blasts 'Fake AI Garbage' Linked To Singer After Donald Trump Post Doja Cat Has Choice Words For Tyga After His 'AI Album' Admission: 'He Is A Penis' Elon Musk Slated After Claiming Grok Will Generate An AI Film Version Of The Odyssey