NEW YORK April 17, 2026 – Academy Award-winning actress and producer Sandra Bullock has called on the entertainment industry to actively engage with artificial intelligence, describing the technology as something that must be observed, understood, and even befriended — albeit with strong caution.
Bullock made the remarks yesterday at the CNBC Changemakers Summit in New York City during a joint appearance with Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Co-Chair and CEO Pam Abdy. The discussion was sparked by the proliferation of fan-made AI-generated trailers for Practical Magic 2, the upcoming sequel to Bullock’s 1998 hit film, which she is starring in and producing for Warner Bros. (set for theatrical release this fall).
When CNBC’s Julia Boorstin asked Bullock how she felt about AI tools being used to recreate her and co-star Nicole Kidman’s likenesses in fan trailers that now dominate search results for the film, Bullock responded with a mix of humor and pragmatism.
“Well, there could be worse with my image. Sorry,” she joked, before turning serious. “But it’s here. We have to observe it. We have to understand it. We have to lean into it. We have to use it in a really constructive and creative way, make it our friend rather than — I mean, we have to be incredibly cautious and aware of it because there are people who will use it for evil and not good. But I do feel that there’s a place for it… it’s here. We have to just be friends in some dark way.”
Abdy echoed the sentiment, framing AI as a tool rather than a threat. “Like Sandra said, it’s here. We have to acknowledge it, we have to understand it… we have to look at it as a tool… for the storytellers,” she said, adding that the industry must evolve rapidly with the technology.
Bullock also referenced her own lighthearted encounters with AI-generated images of herself and her children, noting that while some versions made her family laugh, the broader implications require vigilance.
The comments arrive amid heightened Hollywood debate over AI’s role in filmmaking — from script assistance and visual effects to concerns about deepfakes, unauthorized digital replicas, and potential job losses for writers, actors, and crew. Bullock’s stance aligns with recent calls from other stars, including Reese Witherspoon, who has urged women in the industry to learn and adopt AI tools to avoid being left behind.
The full transcript of the CNBC Changemakers Summit conversation is available on the network’s website.
Bullock, whose credits include The Blind Side, Gravity, and The Proposal, has not announced specific AI initiatives for her own projects but emphasized the need for constructive, creative integration of the technology moving forward.
Life News Agency will continue to monitor developments in AI’s impact on the entertainment industry.
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