By Zoe Papadakis | Wednesday, 29 October 2025 02:13 PM EDT
Emma Thompson openly criticized artificial intelligence during her recent appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” expressing frustration over AI tools attempting to alter her writing. The Oscar-winning writer and actor, known for her adaptation of “Sense & Sensibility,” described her irritation with AI-driven suggestions to rewrite her work.
Thompson explained that she writes by hand on a physical pad, emphasizing the connection between her brain and hand, which she believes is essential to her creative process. She recounted how her Word document frequently offers to rewrite her content, leading to exasperation. “I don’t need you to rewrite what I’ve just written,” she said, using strong language to express her frustration.
Colbert humorously suggested she display her Oscar to the computer as a reminder of who is in control, but Thompson dismissed the idea, noting the machine would likely ignore it. She also shared a past ordeal while working on “Sense & Sensibility,” where her computer transformed the script into hieroglyphs, forcing her to seek help from a colleague to recover the work.
Thompson’s comments align with growing resistance from Hollywood figures against generative AI in creative industries. Director Guillermo del Toro recently stated his disinterest in using AI, calling it “natural stupidity” and expressing concerns about its unchecked development. He emphasized the need for caution, stating he would rather avoid the technology entirely.
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment.
