The creator of Breaking Bad is pushing back against the rising tide of artificial intelligence in Hollywood. Vince Gilligan, whose new series Pluribus recently debuted on Apple TV+, is openly criticizing AI as a threat to human creativity and has included a special “made by humans” disclaimer in his show’s credits as a statement against the technology.
A Defiant Disclaimer
The end credits of Pluribus feature a clear message: “This show was made by humans.” This isn’t just a playful note for a series about a global hive mind; it’s a direct reflection of Gilligan’s strong feelings about AI. He dismisses AI as “the world’s most expensive and energy-intensive plagiarism machine” and suspects the technology is being oversold by the ultra-wealthy .
“It’s basically a bunch of centibillionaires whose greatest life goal is to become the world’s first trillionaires. I think they’re selling a bag of vapour,” Gilligan told Variety .
The Core of the Conflict
For Gilligan, the issue with AI is fundamental. He believes that while new technology should aim to improve the world, AI seems designed to do the opposite by taking creativity away from people. He sees it as a technology that is “designed to take work away, creativity away, creative endeavor away from human beings” .
He questions the value of technology that does creative work for people, from writing essays to creating art. “What’s left to live for?” he asked in an interview with Deadline. “The creative spark in human beings — it’s one of the most precious, wonderful things we have. What is more important than being creative?” .
Gilligan extends this concern to everyone, not just professional artists. He believes that when we let machines handle creative tasks, we lose a part of ourselves.
“If you elect to have a machine do those things for you, you’re losing something. You’re losing a part of yourself. You’re losing an agency… that you would otherwise possess,” he explained .
A Personal Stance and Industry Concerns
Gilligan’s position is so firm that he has never used AI tools like ChatGPT. He stated, “I have not used ChatGPT, because as of yet, no one has held a shotgun to my head and made me do it” . This phrase is an idiom meaning he has not been forced against his will to use the technology.
He is not alone in his stance. Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro has also expressed strong anti-AI sentiments, saying he would “rather die” than participate in the AI hype. Gilligan praised del Toro, calling him an “international treasure” .
Beyond creativity, Gilligan also worries about the potential for AI to achieve consciousness, which would force a difficult ethical discussion. “If they ever achieve consciousness, the whole discussion of slavery has to come back into the forefront of the conversation,” he warned .
A Show That Reflects Anxieties
While Pluribus is seen as a powerful allegory for the dangers of a single-minded collective, Gilligan’s ideas for the show actually predate the recent surge in generative AI. The series follows Rhea Seehorn as Carol, one of only twelve people immune to an extraterrestrial virus that transforms humanity into a relentlessly optimistic hive mind .
Seehorn, who worked with Gilligan on Better Call Saul, has joined him in criticizing AI. She specifically called out the recent emergence of an AI-generated actress named “Tilly Norwood,” stating, “I’m fine going on the record that I don’t think any agencies should represent that AI actress. Shame on them!” .
Pluribus represents a major return for Gilligan, with a reported budget of $15 million per episode, five times more than an average episode of Breaking Bad. The first two episodes of the series are now available for streaming on Apple TV+ .
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