'I warned you guys in 1984': 'Terminator' director James Cameron on concerns over AI

Oscar-winning Canadian filmmaker James Cameron says he agrees with experts in the artificial intelligence field that advancements in the technology pose a serious risk to humanity.

Cameron, who’s been critically acclaimed for his films “Titanic” and “Avatar,” among others, is in Ottawa Tuesday to launch a Canadian Geographic exhibit about his feats of deep-sea exploration.

He also directed and co-wrote the 1984 science fiction action film “Terminator,” about a cyborg assassin, and was asked by CTV News about his thoughts on recent predictions about the future of AI.

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[icky_mack]

Terminator wasn't a movie, it was a documentary.

[lostinlife]

The 1st terminator is such a gem. Love the practical effects.

[Myreply]

The original Star Trek series had cell phones, personal computers, wide scree view-screen, light weapons, etc. Yesterdays, science fiction is tomorrows science fact. Skynet is coming though not under that name.

[Z_TPI]

Kinda fucked up knowing there's a Japanese robotics company named Cyberdyne. Shut it down and destroy any software named Skynet 😂

[jjgalletta]

He was right about OceanGate. Something tells me that he is right about AI. 2029 is the year he used in his movies. That’s 5.5 years from now. Tick tock… 😂😂😂

[johnboko]

Your movies are becoming a reality Cameron, It's awesome but scary at that same time, we need to find our reality John Connor.

[markandrewclearwater]

Best guy ever ! All his quotes should be part of anything related to AI !

[nicoco.]

I also warned you, but no one listened to me.

[berryfairy]

Pretty scary to think that violent, ignorant, paranoid humans would be the ones building the way Ai thinks. It would just be another destructive being, with more power, speed and intelligence. Hope I'm long gone by the time humans finally destroy this planet.

[cherryonasundae]

We need to listen to all of this guys advice!!! Pure gold!!

[ralfvanbogaert]

It's a little unfair (even if tongue-in-cheek) to prop up Cameron as the spokesman for the dangers of militarized AI, there's a 1970 movie called Colossus: The Forbin Project (14 whole years before the Terminator) about an intelligent military supercomputer taking over the world. Harlan Ellison wrote about it earlier still.

[pahanmusik]

This would become a perfect prequel to the famous Terminator saga. Skynet is potentially non other then current Apple AI etc.

[JohnPap]

There's already autonomous mini drone killers. Imagine those with AI.

[mikesorensen]

The day Arnold appears naked before me in an alleyway is the day I will accept time travel. AI? that's another movie.

[canadian]

The real question is who is building the time machine? Cause at today's rate of A.I advancement, we are going to need it soon.

[vectorphoenix]

Well, there already is an incident where a robot injured a human at a car factory.

[farkinarkin]

Phase plasma rifle in the 4O watt range...

[gamerguy_]

Just tell James to call John Connor! Boom problem solved.

[m]

I've been saying the 1st Terminator is more realistic than many think and the technology is moving at an astronomical rate. They very well could be realistic in our lifetime, about 20 years

[NHLUtahPlainBagel]

Kylie Reese told Sarah Connor said, "Not until 40 years." Next year, the Terminator movie will be 40 years.