Emma Thompson Tells AI to ‘Just F— Off!’ and Calls It an ‘Intense Irritation’ as a Screenwriter: ‘Will You Just F— Off? I’m So Annoyed’

Veteran actress and acclaimed screenwriter Emma Thompson recently voiced a strong and unequivocal disdain for Artificial Intelligence, particularly regarding its encroaching presence in creative fields like screenwriting. Her candid remarks, made during an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” resonated with many in the industry, highlighting a growing tension between human artistry and technological automation.

A Screenwriter’s Profound Irritation with AI

As an Oscar and BAFTA-winning screenwriter, notably for her 1995 adaptation of “Sense & Sensibility,” Thompson’s perspective carries significant weight. She described her feelings about AI as “intense irritation,” expressing a deep frustration with AI chatbots suggesting revisions to her work. Thompson revealed her traditional writing process, which involves composing scripts longhand on a pad, believing in a fundamental “connection between the brain and the hand”.

Her annoyance peaks when transcribing her handwritten work into a Word document. “Recently, the Word document is constantly saying, ‘Would you like me to rewrite that for you?’” Thompson recounted. Her visceral response to these prompts is a defiant “I don’t need you to rewrite what I’ve just written, will you fuck off?! Just fuck off! I’m so annoyed”. This outburst encapsulates a sentiment felt by many creators who view AI’s automated suggestions as an unwelcome intrusion on their unique creative voice and labor.

A History of Technological Hurdles for Thompson

Thompson’s struggles with technology are not a new phenomenon. She shared a memorable anecdote from her experience finishing “Sense & Sensibility,” where her computer inexplicably transformed her entire script into hieroglyphs, effectively deleting her progress. This incident forced her to seek assistance from Stephen Fry, who spent eight hours recovering the text, albeit in one long, unbroken sentence. Thompson humorously, yet pointedly, suggested the computer seemed to have acted “on purpose,” highlighting a long-standing, often exasperating, relationship with the tools meant to aid her creative process.

Echoes in Hollywood: Other Voices Against AI

Emma Thompson is not an isolated voice in her strong opposition to generative AI within Hollywood. Her sentiments are echoed by other prominent figures in the entertainment industry. Acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro, known for his unique cinematic vision, has also expressed extreme reservations. He famously declared that he would “rather die” than use AI in his filmmaking process. Del Toro, aged 61, stated his hope to remain “uninterested in using it at all until I croak”. These outspoken declarations from established artists underscore a significant current of resistance and concern regarding AI’s role in creative industries, particularly concerning issues of authorship, originality, and the human element of creation.

The Broader Debate: Creativity vs. Automation

The intense reactions from artists like Emma Thompson and Guillermo del Toro reflect a broader and increasingly urgent debate within creative fields: the tension between human ingenuity and automated solutions offered by artificial intelligence. For screenwriters, directors, and actors, the fear isn’t merely about job displacement, but also about the potential erosion of the very essence of human creativity—the unique experiences, emotions, and perspectives that inform and shape storytelling. The idea of an algorithm generating or “improving” a script can feel like a fundamental challenge to the deeply personal and often arduous process of artistic expression. As AI capabilities advance, these discussions become crucial in defining the boundaries and ethical considerations of integrating technology into the inherently human endeavor of art.

Conclusion

Emma Thompson’s emphatic “Just F— Off!” to AI serves as a powerful and unfiltered expression of a sentiment resonating across the creative landscape. Her “intense irritation” as a screenwriter is rooted in a belief in the tactile, personal connection to her craft and a skepticism towards technology that presumes to enhance or replace human authorship. Her stance, alongside that of contemporaries like Guillermo del Toro, underscores the significant questions and anxieties that the rise of artificial intelligence poses to the integrity and future of artistic creation in Hollywood and beyond.