Rolling Stone · 2 Oct, 06:20 · Artificial Intelligence briefing

Ben Affleck Says He Used AI for ‘Lots Of Things’ in His New Movie ‘Animal’

Actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck recently disclosed to Rolling Stone that he utilised artificial intelligence for numerous tasks during the production of his latest film, titled ‘Animal’.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

25–40%salary premium for professionals with applied AI skills

11xgrowth in AI job adverts since 2019

66%of leaders won't hire without AI literacy

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck recently disclosed to Rolling Stone that he utilised artificial intelligence for numerous tasks during the production of his latest film, titled ‘Animal’. This admission highlights a growing trend within the creative industries where Hollywood professionals are increasingly integrating automated tools into their workflows. The revelation underscores how AI is no longer confined to technical back-end operations but is now being actively employed in the creative decision-making and production processes of major motion pictures, signalling a significant shift in industry standards.

Employer demand for AI in Film And Media skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This development signals that AI literacy is becoming a non-negotiable competency across creative and strategic roles. You must move beyond viewing AI as a mere novelty and start integrating it into your daily workflow to enhance efficiency. Professionals in media, project management, and strategy should prioritise upskilling in prompt engineering and ethical AI application. Ignoring this shift risks professional obsolescence. You should audit your current tools and identify where AI can automate repetitive tasks or augment creative output. By proactively adopting these technologies, you position yourself as an innovative leader who leverages technology to drive value, rather than a passive observer of industry change.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI in Film And Media, Artificial Intelligence, Project Management and AI Strategy — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.