Director James Cameron, famed for his work on “The Terminator” and “Avatar,” is embracing artificial intelligence by joining the board of directors at Stability AI. The company is renowned for its generative AI technologies, including the Stable Diffusion text-to-image generator and Stable Audio application.
Stability AI’s CEO, Prem Akkaraju, announced Cameron’s new position on September 24. Cameron will contribute his artistic expertise to help the company in its mission to transform visual media through AI. He believes that the intersection of generative AI and CGI represents the “next wave” of storytelling, offering unprecedented opportunities for artists.
“I’ve spent my career seeking out emerging technologies that push the very boundaries of what’s possible, all in the service of telling incredible stories,” Cameron stated. He emphasized that combining generative AI with CGI will “unlock new ways for artists to tell stories in ways we could have never imagined.”
Cameron joins other notable figures on the board, including former Facebook executive Sean Parker, who became Stability AI’s executive chairman in June 2024. Parker, portrayed by Justin Timberlake in “The Social Network,” brought in new funding to strengthen the company’s financial standing.
Akkaraju praised Cameron’s visionary approach to technology and storytelling. “James Cameron lives in the future and waits for the rest of us to catch up,” he said. “We have an unmatched advantage to achieve this goal with a technological and creative visionary like James at the highest levels of our company.”
Cameron’s involvement comes despite his earlier reservations about AI, particularly concerning its potential weaponization. In a 2023 interview, he expressed concern about an AI arms race and referenced his own work by saying, “I warned you guys in 1984, and you didn’t listen.”
Alongside Cameron, the board includes Dana Settle, co-founder and managing partner of Greycroft; Colin Bryant, COO and general partner of Coatue Management; and Sean Parker as executive chairman.
Stability AI has experienced significant growth, with Stable Diffusion surpassing 150 million downloads since its 2022 launch. The company aims to lead the fusion of artistic creativity and technological innovation in visual media.
