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George Clooney Criticizes AI at Venice Film Festival

festival-fair · 2026-09-02

At the Venice Film Festival, George Clooney, recipient of the honorary Golden Lion for lifetime achievement, voiced his concerns about artificial intelligence, specifically its potential to create unauthorized digital likenesses. He stated, "I wouldn't like to be in a tampon commercial 20 years after I'm dead," underscoring his discomfort with AI's ability to resurrect celebrities posthumously. Clooney, who arrived at the Lido via vaporetto, has long been a fixture at the festival, having premiered 'Good Night, and Good Luck' there, which won the Best Screenplay award. The festival, known for balancing Hollywood glamour with auteur cinema, will present the award to Clooney, with Laura Dern delivering the honor. The event highlights ongoing debates about AI's role in the entertainment industry.

Key facts

  • George Clooney criticized AI at the Venice Film Festival.
  • He received the honorary Golden Lion for lifetime achievement.
  • Laura Dern will present the award.
  • Clooney arrived at the Lido on a vaporetto.
  • He previously premiered 'Good Night, and Good Luck' at the festival.
  • That film won the Best Screenplay award.
  • His comment about tampon commercials was in reference to AI-generated likenesses.
  • The festival aims to balance Hollywood stars with auteur cinema.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Venice Film Festival

Locations

  • Venice
  • Italy

Sources