POLITICO Tech Podcast Summary Episode: Joseph Gordon-Levitt on AI, Hollywood and Owning Your ‘Digital Self’
Release Date: June 19, 2025
Host: Stephen Overley

Introduction

In this insightful episode of POLITICO Tech, host Stephen Overley engages in a compelling conversation with acclaimed actor and entrepreneur Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The discussion centers on the profound impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on Hollywood, intellectual property, human creativity, and broader societal implications. Gordon-Levitt, known for his roles in Inception and Looper, shares his nuanced perspective on AI's potential and the ethical considerations it brings forth.

AI's Evolution and Impact on Creativity

Gordon-Levitt recounts his initial skepticism towards generative AI, observing early large language models that seemed ineffective. However, as AI technology rapidly advanced, he acknowledged its impressive capabilities, stating:

"I remember seeing early versions of some of these large language models and saying, this is bogus... and then completely eating my words a couple years later as it got so incredibly impressive."
[02:03]

His journey from doubt to recognition underscores the swift evolution of AI and its increasing integration into creative industries like Hollywood.

Data Ownership and Economic Implications

A central theme of the conversation revolves around data ownership and the economic ramifications of AI-driven technologies. Gordon-Levitt critiques the current model where tech companies utilize vast amounts of user-generated data without proper consent or compensation. He highlights Google's AI video generator VO3 as an example:

"They took everybody's videos without permission and without compensating any of those people... they get to keep 100% of the money and the professors get 0% of the money."
[05:10]

This raises concerns about fair compensation for content creators and the incentive structures that may discourage creativity and excellence in various professions.

Regulatory and Policy Suggestions

Addressing these challenges, Gordon-Levitt advocates for legislative action to ensure data ownership. He proposes:

"Make a law that says your digital self belongs to you... any data that gets produced by a person... you the human, deserve some amount of any economic value that comes from that data."
[14:16]

He emphasizes the need for a balanced approach where both individuals and tech companies receive fair compensation for data usage. Additionally, he references pioneering work by technologist Jaron Lanier and economist Glenn Weil on tracking training data within neural networks to provide meaningful attribution:

"They started doing the work in terms of social media, not just AI... They work on what it would take technically to be able to track pieces of training data through a neural net."
[10:37]

The Role of Media and Policymakers

Gordon-Levitt discusses the insufficient counterweights to the power of big tech companies, contending that Hollywood alone cannot drive the necessary changes. Instead, he calls for a collective societal effort:

"We have to understand that the Internet as it's set up right now is disempowering to ordinary people... It doesn't have to be that way."
[12:13]

He underscores the importance of public awareness and governmental regulation as essential to preventing a concentration of power that undermines economic fairness and individual rights.

Positive Portrayals of AI in Media

Shifting focus to media portrayals, Gordon-Levitt reflects on the influence of Hollywood in shaping public perceptions of AI. While acknowledging that dystopian narratives are more prevalent, he advocates for positive science fiction as a tool to foster a healthier understanding of AI:

"The best example ever is, you know, the early or earlier Star Trek series... this is a pretty positive, optimistic view of the future."
[25:41]

He warns against the personification of AI in media, cautioning that it may lead to misconceptions about the technology's nature and capabilities:

"The personification of this technology is dangerous and that we should be very careful about letting ourselves slip into the delusion that these products are people."
[26:38]

Conclusion

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's perspective offers a balanced view of AI's potential benefits and its ethical challenges. Emphasizing the need for legislative action, public awareness, and responsible media portrayals, he advocates for a future where technology empowers individuals rather than disenfranchises them. This episode serves as a crucial conversation on ensuring that AI development aligns with societal values and economic fairness.

Notable Quotes

• Joseph Gordon-Levitt:
  "There's no intelligence in there other than the human intelligence."
  [03:38]

• Gordon-Levitt:
  "We are all just serfs on the king's land. And that's not a recipe for a vibrant world or a healthy economy moving forward."
  [10:00]

• Gordon-Levitt:
  "It's a thinly veiled disguise for, for saying we just want to make maximum money... they have a business incentive to get there first."
  [19:23]

• Gordon-Levitt:
  "We have to make a law that says your digital self belongs to you."
  [14:16]

This episode of POLITICO Tech provides a thought-provoking exploration of AI's role in modern society, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations and proactive policymaking to navigate the complexities introduced by advancing technologies.