Musician and filmmaker Boots Riley publicly criticized Martin Scorsese for joining Black Forest Labs as an advisor, questioning the ethics of leveraging his influence to promote generative AI in filmmaking. Riley, known for his satirical comedy 'I Love Boosters,' suggested on social media that Scorsese, 83, may have taken the role for financial reasons, calling it a 'gang of money' deal. He emphasized that his criticism isn’t about Scorsese personally using AI, but about using his cultural capital to push the technology across the industry.

Scorsese defended the move, stating that AI tools help him visualize storyboards more efficiently for collaborators like production and cinematography teams. He recently completed filming 'What Happens At Night,' starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence. Riley’s critique highlights broader skepticism in creative communities about whether AI delivers real value or simply inflates hype.

The debate underscores tensions in Hollywood over technological adoption, artistic integrity, and generational divides. With over $1 trillion invested in generative AI, Riley remains unconvinced it’s transforming film in meaningful ways. His comments come as he promotes his own theatrical release, positioning himself in contrast to established figures embracing new tech.