Keanu Reeves Finds Deepfakes, AI ‘Scary’ — His Film Contracts Now Bans Digital Edits?

Keanu Reeves is terrified of emerging technologies like deepfakes and artificial intelligence (AI), saying these innovations are "scary."

People are usually divided by new technology. And it seems that the "Matrix" actor is not impressed with the arrival of deepfakes in Hollywood movies.

In fact, The "John Wick" star preferred doing movies without digital manipulation in his acting performance.

Keanu Reeves Says 'Deepfakes' and AI Scares Him

In his recent interview with Wired, Keanu Reeves admits that "deepfakes" actually scare him.

He went on to narrate an experience he had decades ago, probably in the early 2000s or the late 90s, wherein his acting performance was digitally manipulated.

The "Matrix" actor says that through digital editing, his performance included a tear in his eyes. He notes that "they added a tear to my face."

And his initial reaction was an astounding shock, wherein he blurted out a "Huh?!" He even ended up thinking that "I don't even have to be here."

Furthermore, Reeves says that "if you go into deepfake land, it has none of your points of view." And for him, as an actor in blockbuster films like "John Wick," it is "scary."

Besides deepfakes specifically, he shared his two cents on the growing popularity of AI these days.

He pointed out that AI tools now create music based on real-life artists like Nirvana. Reeves also mentioned the emergence of AI-created NFT digital art.

The Grammy-winning French DJ, David Guetta, recently got acquainted with these AI tools. And he used those to include the voice of Eminem in his new track using deepfake.

According to Interesting Engineering, the "Matrix" star admits that it is "cool, like, 'Look what the cute machines can make!'"

However, he raises his concerns about AI technology. The "John Wick" star says that "culturally, socially, [we are] gonna be confronted by the value of real, or the non-value."

Matrix Actor's Contract Now Bans Digital Edits

With all that said, Reeves wants his acting performance in his movies to steer away from digital manipulation.

And to do so, Variety reports that the "Matrix" star confirmed that his movie contracts have banned digital manipulation of his performance.

So if a studio is looking to deepfake his character using AI, his contract clause would prevent them from doing so.

With that, viewers could expect that the acting performance of Reeves in his movies, whether the previous hit ones like "John Wick" or his upcoming films, is free from digital alterations.