Martin Scorsese has come under fire from fellow filmmakers and artists after revealing his investment in an artificial intelligence company that specializes in generating storyboards. The acclaimed director defended the use of AI as a tool to enhance creativity, but critics argue it undermines human artists.
Scorsese's AI Investment
According to a report in the New York Times, Scorsese became a partner and adviser to Black Forest Labs, a German company focused on text-to-image generative AI, in 2025. In a statement, Scorsese said, "I'm interested in the intersection of technology and storytelling, and seeing how that can push the bounds of creativity to create deeper and richer experiences for audiences. Remember, cinema is a young medium, only around 125 years old, so we have to be open to how it can evolve."
He elaborated on the practical benefits: "For 70 years, I've been creating my own storyboards. There's always been this problem of how do you communicate what you see in your head to your cast and crew. There are some things you have to see and feel. Now with this tool, I can share what I'm visualising more clearly and efficiently to my creative team."
Backlash from Artists
Storyboard and concept artists reacted strongly to the news. Karla Ortiz, a concept artist who worked on Marvel films such as Black Panther, Avengers: Endgame, and Avengers: Infinity War, posted on social media: "He throws every single storyboard artist he's ever worked with under the bus ... To use his legacy and power for this is just so disgusting."
Samuel Deats, director of the animated series Castlevania, added: "There is absolutely no reason to need AI built on the stolen work of millions of artists to storyboard your vision, have some damn pride and respect your peers."
Growing AI Adoption in Film
Scorsese joins a growing list of prominent film figures embracing AI. Steven Soderbergh used AI-generated sequences in his recent documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview, while Jurassic World Rebirth director Gareth Edwards described AI as "a fucking genius at helping you." Tribeca film festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal defended plans to screen Dreams of Violets, a fully AI-generated film about protesters in Iran, saying "it's something that should be seen right now at this time."
Scorsese's Clarification
There is no indication that Scorsese plans to use generative AI images in his final films; rather, he sees it as a preproduction tool. He stated: "I recently tested this out on a scene, and the ability to visualise and immediately share the storyboard was creatively freeing. During the preproduction process, time costs money, and this allowed us to move faster without sacrificing quality or craft."
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension in the film industry between technological innovation and the protection of traditional artistic roles.
