‘Atlas’ Star Jennifer Lopez Says AI Has Been ‘Really Scary’

In director Brad Peyton’s Netflix sci-fi action movie, “Atlas,” Jennifer Lopez stars as the titular character, a data analyst who must turn to AI to help save the Earth from an evil robot (Simu Liu).

“I think this movie does a good job of showing how AI could go incredibly wrong, and this is how it could go really right,” Lopez told me at the film’s Los Angeles premiere.

The multi-hyphenate has experienced the exploitative side of AI, with ads “selling skincare that I know nothing about” using manipulated photos of her face covered in “wrinkles.” “It’s really scary,” she said, adding, “Right away we had them stealing our faces. So, yes, [AI] is really scary.”

Lopez further explained, “I think you should be respectful of AI…We have to be open to all possibilities. These movies that are talking about AI — especially this one — do a really good job of showing both sides.”

Sterling K. Brown, who plays a military officer fighting alongside Atlas, said he was gobsmacked by Lopez’s work ethic. “Moguls be moguling,” he said. “She was talking earlier today how she has brought down her level of commitments. I would have marveled to see her at full tilt, because it looked like it was full tilt when we were together. There was always something happening.”

In one scene, Brown and Lopez’s characters are left badly beaten and bruised by the villains. “We had nice little side conversations…