Exclusive! Vinay Pathak: The fact that ChatGPT can do everything for you is alarming

The actor is concerned about the effects of AI and technological advancements on human lives, including performing art

Vinay Pathak

In the recent past, two viral videos and photos raised concern around the use of artificial intelligence (AI), which has become a part of our lives quicker than we could have ever imagined.

One viral AI-generated video reimagined Malayalam superstars Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Fahadh Faasil, casting them in a pivotal scene in Francis Ford Coppola's cult classic, The Godfather. From their facial expressions to voice modulation, everything was done so well that one could easily mistake that the Malayalam actors were actually cast in the film.

The photo that went viral was that of a protest march of Indian wrestlers towards the new parliament on May 28, which included Olympic medal winners Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat. The wrestlers were detained, but the photo that was circulated on the internet showed the wrestlers smiling. After fact-checking, it was concluded that an AI-generated smile was put on the faces of Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat.

If AI can change the expression and voice of a person, it is a cause for concern for everyone, especially actors.

In an exclusive conversation with actor Vinay Pathak, who was recently seen in the Sonam Kapoor film Blind, OTTplay asked him about his opinion on the impact of AI in the entertainment industry.

Vinay said, "Honestly speaking, this is new, and I really do not know in which direction we are heading. Technology has advanced so much that if I want, I can use a video of Michael Jackson dancing and replace his face with mine, and it will look like I am dancing. I don't know if AI will impact performers or exactly how it will affect an artist. I have personally not experienced it. But yes, one thing is for sure: the entertainment business is going to get a huge facelift in the coming years. And we do not even know what is in store for us."

Citing an example of how 10 years ago it was unimaginable for anyone to do a Zoom interview the way we did throughout the pandemic and are even doing now is also a result of technological advancement.

"Since all forms of media and the entertainment industry are connected, the impact of technological advancements is inevitable," Vinay added.

He went on to raise concerns about the negative impact that technology has on human interaction.

"Because of social media, in the last 10 years, the way we spend our leisure time has changed drastically. We now live on social media, and face-to-face human interaction — the good ol' adda and chai pe charcha — has become occasional. What is alarming is that communication is losing human touch. People have stopped writing on paper, so the skill set that comes along with it is not there anymore. Obviously, if ChatGPT will write for you, why will you write? That's how people think. But are we not missing out on gaining the skills of reading and writing, researching, and understanding? For me, that is alarming," pointed out the Bheja Fry actor.

"In the coming 20 years, kids will not see a blackboard, pen, or paper because everything will be digitised. The alienation and emotional isolation from one another is what alarms me," he signed off.

Blind, a Hindi adaptation of the Korean film of the same name, is directed by Shome Makhija and also stars Lillete Dubey, Shubham Saraf, and Lucy Aarden. It is available to stream on JioCinema.

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