Joe Russo Says They Used AI for Voice Modulation in ‘The Electric State’: “[It’s] something any 10-year-old could do after watching a TikTok video”
The Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony, are stirring up conversation with their latest Netflix film, The Electric State. The movie, featuring Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle Greene, Chris Pratt as John Keats, Stanley Tucci as Ethan Skate, and Woody Norman as Christopher Greene, explores a world after a robot-human war.
With a massive $320 million budget, it’s already under scrutiny for its story and quality. Now, the directors have revealed they used AI to tweak voices in the film, adding fuel to an ongoing Hollywood debate.
Joe Russo explained that AI helped adjust some of the movie’s dialogue. He sees it as a simple process, saying, “Something any ten-year-old could do after watching a TikTok video.” He argues that AI is already common in the film industry, even if people don’t talk about it much. “There’s a lot of finger-pointing and hyperbole because people are afraid. They don’t understand. But ultimately you’ll see AI used more significantly,” he said.
Russo believes AI’s current flaws—called “hallucinations”—make it unfit for critical tasks like self-driving cars or surgery. But for creative work like filmmaking, he thinks it’s a perfect fit. “In its generative state, AI is best suited towards creativity,” he added.
This isn’t the first time Joe has backed AI. Back in 2023 at the Sands International Film Festival, he predicted it could one day make entire movies. He told The Hollywood Reporter recently that it’s a “valuable tool” as long as artists stay in charge.
His brother Anthony agrees, saying, “We have to approach AI the same way we approach all technological innovations. It’s potentially a valuable tool, but it’s the kind of tool that artists always have to remain in control of.”
With the Russos set to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars for Marvel, their views might hint at AI’s role in those projects too.
But not everyone in Hollywood is on board. AI has been a hot-button issue for years. The 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes—WGA from May 2 to September 27 and SAG-AFTRA from July 14 to November 9—partly focused on protecting jobs from AI replacement. Other films have faced backlash too.
The Brutalist, a 2025 Oscar winner, caught flak for using AI to improve Hungarian dialogue and create architectural designs. Star Adrien Brody admitted, “Even just the mention of AI is a bit triggering,” though he stressed it didn’t replace anyone’s work.
Netflix’s Gabby Petito documentary also drew criticism for recreating her voice with AI, despite her family’s approval. Meanwhile, director James Cameron plans to add a “no generative AI used” note to his upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash, taking a clear stand against it.
For The Electric State, the AI use seems small—voice tweaks aren’t new and were done with computers before. The controversy could push away viewers who are already unsure about the film.
Elsewhere, Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy scrapped plans to release his show’s scripts, fearing AI could exploit them. “In the end, it would be 1,500 pages that came directly off this desk,” he said. “I mean, terribly sadly, it’s just too much of an X-ray and too easily absorbed. Why help the fucking robots anymore than you can?”
As AI grows in Hollywood, opinions remain split. The Russos see it as a creative boost, but others worry about jobs and ethics. With The Electric State out now on Netflix, its use of AI might just be the start of a bigger shift—or another reason for debate.
What do you think about AI being used in movies and shows? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
