Director Morgan Neville Rejects Generative AI Following Documentary Backlash
Filmmaker Morgan Neville avoids generative AI in his projects after facing intense criticism for using synthetic voice technology in the Anthony Bourdain documentary "Roadrunner."
Director Morgan Neville stays away from generative AI after facing severe backlash for using the technology in his documentary "Roadrunner." Neville originally employs an AI model to replicate Anthony Bourdain's voice to read the late chef's own written words, a choice he views as a fun way to preserve Bourdain's presence in the film.
The decision sparks immediate controversy, as many viewers incorrectly assume the AI fabricates entirely fake quotes rather than reading authentic Bourdain text. This public reaction causes a ripple effect across the documentary industry, prompting other filmmakers to either abandon similar AI techniques or add massive disclaimers to their projects.
Now, Neville assiduously avoids artificial intelligence entirely, even when it offers a convenient solution. In his new Lego-animated film "Piece by Piece" about musician Pharrell, he manually splices together real audio syllables from the late astronomer Carl Sagan to say the word "Pharrell" instead of taking the easy route with AI voice generation.