Ben Affleck As soon as Once more Surprises Followers by Exhibiting Off His AI Data

Ben Affleck is as soon as once more stunning individuals along with his AI chops.

The film star conveyed a formidable understanding of generative AI programs in an interview with GQ’s “One More Question” sequence revealed Tuesday, through which Affleck mentioned he might write roughly in Python, a preferred programming language, and mentioned the workings of convolutional neural networks.

“I’ve at all times been sort of into computer systems since I used to be younger. Then, when movie began to maneuver from analog movie to digital, I turned extra occupied with that facet of it,” Affleck mentioned, including the “visual-effects workflow for a few years has included machine studying.”

He then spent a number of minutes explaining ideas behind fashionable AI programs, utilizing phrases and phrases which can be probably unfamiliar to those that do not know AI terminology: transformers, tensors, and edge detection.

“I admire the best way you are speaking to me like I perceive any of it,” interviewer Zach Baron joked in response. “I’m actually flattered and honored by that, so thanks.”

The clip of Affleck speaking about AI went viral, sparking shock, delight, and jokes.

“Turns out he was the true Good Will Hunting all alongside,” one X consumer wrote, referring to the 1997 movie Affleck wrote with Matt Damon, who performs the genius Will Hunting within the film.

“TLDR. Ben Afflick admits the film ‘The Accountant’ was really semi-autobiographical,” one other consumer mentioned, referencing the 2016 film the place Affleck performs a math savant.

For these paying consideration, Affleck’s proficiency with AI should not come as a lot of a shock. The actor has sparked “Ben Affleck is aware of AI?!” reactions a number of occasions over the previous few years. He additionally sold InterPositive, the AI film-tech startup he quietly based in 2022, to Netflix earlier this 12 months for a reported $587 million, although Affleck mentioned within the GQ interview that determine was “not proper.”

Ben Affleck’s AI data has made headlines earlier than

Affleck first drew consideration for his AI prowess in November 2024 at a CNBC investor summit, the place he defined AI’s limitations in filmmaking.

“AI is a a craftsman at finest. Craftsmen can study to, you already know, make Stickley furnishings by sitting down subsequent to anyone and seeing what their method is and imitating them. That’s how giant video fashions, giant language fashions, mainly work: a library of vectors of which means and transformers that interpret in context,” Affleck mentioned. “But they’re simply cross-pollinating issues that exist. Nothing new is created.”

“Craftsman is figuring out methods to work, artwork is figuring out when to cease. And I believe figuring out when to cease goes to be a really troublesome factor for AI to study as a result of it is style,” he mentioned.

A clip of Affleck’s remarks went viral on X, racking up over 20 million views.

The actor once more went viral in January this 12 months for feedback he made about AI on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. Affleck mentioned a lot of the concern and existential dread connected to AI comes from “people who find themselves attempting to justify valuations round firms.”

“Where they go, ‘We’re going to vary every little thing. In two years, there’s going to be no extra work.’ Well, the explanation they’re saying that’s as a result of they should ascribe a valuation for financial backing that may warrant the capex spend they will make on these information facilities,” he mentioned.

In addition to going viral, a clip of the interview was praised on X by Michael Burry, the “Big Short” investor and AI increase skeptic who had voiced related doubts about a number of the AI hype.

“Ben Affleck is clearly a sensible man. So this doesn’t shock me. It sounds acquainted and on level,” Burry mentioned on the time.

While followers could frequently be shocked by Affleck’s AI data, the actor could also be used to individuals underestimating him. He informed GQ that after he not too long ago gained “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” the underlying tone within the texts he received was “slight bafflement.”

“Like, ‘How the fuck does this man try this?'”