"I'm totally paranoid": Jesse Eisenberg admits he experiments with AI to test its screenwriting abilities

Jesse Eisenberg says he occasionally tests artificial intelligence to see how close it is to producing good writing, and the results have left him relieved so far.

During an appearance on Variety's Awards Circuit podcast, the actor also discussed his concerns about AI and its potential impact on creative work.

He admitted he occasionally tests AI's writing abilities by asking it to produce scenes, though he remains unimpressed with the results.

Jesse Eisenberg reveals impressions on AI, saving grace

Jesse Eisenberg said he is “totally paranoid” about AI's potential and sometimes asks the technology to write scenes as a way of checking its abilities.

“I’m totally paranoid. I sometimes experiment with AI to see whether it’s good at writing. And it’s still not. I’m paranoid, so I check and it still isn’t. Thank God.”

The Social Network star continued:

“I say, 'Write a scene like this.' I’m just testing it to make sure it’s bad, and it’s still bad. So I’m relieved, but, like, how far away is it from being good? How far are we from a kid putting on a pair of goggles and saying, 'I want to watch a movie about me where I rob a bank and then kiss the girl I’m in love with at school. Here are pictures of her, here are pictures of me,' and then they press play? I’m paranoid about that.”

Jesse Eisenberg went on to talk about the “saving grace,” and that there are two.

“One is what Julianne said: Creative spirit will find ways to entertain and delight us and speak about things in a way that maybe computers won’t. The other thing I think about all the time, and she’s about to go to a play in New York, is that I do these Greek plays, which were written 2,500 years ago, and we perform them the same way they were performed 2,500 years ago.”

The filmmaker continued:

“If they’ve lasted that long, they’ll still be there. People want to be in the same room as other people, watching and listening to stories. It’s as old as cave people sitting by the campfire telling stories, and there will always be room for that.”

Nevertheless, Jesse Eisenberg admitted that he worries if artists will still be able to “make a living from it.”

“I’m not 100% sure about that.”

The Debut, which Jesse Eisenberg wrote and directed, premieres in theaters on Dec. 11, 2026, with international and festival releases running through late 2026 and early 2027.

The A24 movie stars veteran actress Julianne Moore, Halle Bailey, Paul Giamatti, and Eisenberg himself.

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