Actors and writers were protesting against the use of AI in 2023, something that had only become a concern with the AI boom that took over the world with the introduction of tools like Chat GPT and MidJourney. However, Jet Li seems to have been fighting AI since long before any of these tools became a concern.
Jet Li, speaking to the South China Morning Post, talked about how he felt like his career was in danger as a martial artist, given that he was being asked to have his body recorded, not just for filming purposes, but also to produce a digital double.
Jet Li was concerned about digital reproductions
Jet Li was supposed to join the Matrix Trilogy, and so was Michelle Yeoh. However, Li chose to forgo the project, simply because he was concerned that his work in the film could affect his career. It was in no way because of the quality of the offer, but the nature of it. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Li revealed why is chose to not take the role. He said:
“I realized the Americans wanted me to film for three months but be with the crew for nine. And for six months, they wanted to record and copy all my moves into a digital library.”
While he was supposed to film with the crew for 3 months, his tenure with the crew would last 9. This time would be used by the crew to create an extensive library of moves, the rights of which would held by the production house. Li’s problem with the whole situation was similar to what actors have been facing in recent years, something that Li had anticipated way back in 2001.
Jet Li thought about it from a martial artist’s point of view
Most actors have found themselves a deal where their likeness can be copyrighted, or at least preserved, to not have AI generate and use performances that they have already given. However, from a martial artist’s point of view, there are a lot of things that have to come to mind other than just acting. Li said:
“I was thinking: I’ve been training my entire life. And we martial artists could only grow older. Yet they could own [my moves] as an intellectual property forever. So I said I couldn’t do that.”
Not only was this a valid concern at the time, but this was also something young and unknown actors faced with the boom in AI. While it became part of the contract for actors and writers now, back in 2001, there was no industry-wide concern or this sort of thing, and it did not put actors in a place to negotiate.
