Tom Cruise defends human work in cinema at BAFTA 'Life in Pictures'

At the BAFTA "Life in Pictures" evening held in London on 21 September, Tom Cruise dedicated over six minutes to the defense of human work in cinema, talking about the relationship between artificial intelligence, technology, craftsmanship and experience in the cinema.

The star took the floor and monologued for several minutes on a topic that is one of those destined to divide the world of cinema: artificial intelligence. During the London event, the actor answered the question on the impact of AI on the film industry with a long speech dedicated above all to the value of creativity and human work. A passionate speech that also received spontaneous applause from the audience.

“There is nothing like being human,” Cruise declared without any ifs or buts.

Presenter Edith Bowman asked the American star the so-called "question about AI" (which is now obligatory), during the meeting organized by BAFTA to retrace the actor's career. Cruise's response started with a clear phrase: "There is nothing like human".

From there the actor developed a speech lasting over six minutes in which he spoke about the value of cinematographic craftsmanship and the collective experience of watching in the theater. Cruise did not focus directly on the possible negative aspects of artificial intelligence, but insisted on the importance of the people working on the making of a film and the need not to lose skills built over entire careers.

“People want a human experience”

In his reasoning, Cruise also linked the topic of artificial intelligence to the technological evolution of cameras and the relationship between cinema and streaming platforms. According to the actor, the success of cinemas during the summer, even among younger audiences, demonstrates the interest in an experience that cannot be reduced to technology.

“People want a human experience,” he explained, further noting that what you pay attention to ends up being given life. The actor then reiterated that he does not want to see the professionalism and craftsmen who dedicate their existence to the making of films disappear: "People want to see real things", he added, which means "People want to see real things".

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From the cinema to waiting for Digger

The meeting was also organized on the occasion of the imminent release of Digger, the new film starring Cruise and which will arrive in theaters on 2 October 2026. During the evening the actor also told how he got involved in the project directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Tom Cruise explained that the director personally read the script to him over the course of two evenings before the actor decided to accept the role. He called the film "one of the most original and moving" he has ever worked on.

In Digger, Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon called to intervene to avert an environmental catastrophe that, paradoxically, he himself helped cause. A film that, once again, brings the actor and the human work that Cruise defended from the BAFTA stage back to the centre.

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Digger, the trailer of the film by Alejandro G. Iñárritu with Tom Cruise