Tom Holland Speaks Out on AI and Why Artists Are ‘Safe’: ‘Creativity Has to Do With the Human Experience’

Tom Holland said AI poses no threat to artists because creativity stems from human emotion and experience, which AI cannot replicate. The actor expressed confidence in artistic job security during an appearance on Spain's "El Hormiguero" talk show, adding to the ongoing Hollywood debate about AI's impact on creative industries.

Tom Holland https://variety.com/t/tom-holland/ is sharing his thoughts on the hot-button topic of AI, and he’s not shy about explaining why it “doesn’t have a soul.” “Creativity is safe from AI because creativity has to do with the human experience,” Holland said https://x.com/El Hormiguero/status/2066982912466063686?s=20 while appearing on Spain’s “El Hormiguero” talk show Wednesday alongside Zendaya. “It’s about emotions, it’s about understanding one another.” “AI can sift through data, but it can’t understand people’s emotions. It doesn’t understand the difference between being happy and being sad,” Holland continued. “The way artists paint, it’s not about what they’re copying, it’s about expressing themselves. So I feel protected.” Popular on Variety Holland’s appearance on “El Hormiguero” comes as the star preps for a busy summer movie season. First, he will appear as Telemachus in Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated “The Odyssey,” set to release July 24. Then he will make his return to the Marvel universe with “ Spider-Man: Brand New Day https://variety.com/t/spider-man-brand-new-day/ ,” set to release July 31. Zendaya also stars in both pictures. Holland is among numerous actors and filmmakers speaking out about widespread concerns around AI and job security in Hollywood. On Monday night, “Frankenstein” director Guillermo del Toro sounded the alarm https://variety.com/2026/film/news/guillermo-del-toro-bfi-fellowship-hollywood-sarandos-1236782314/ on the quickly developing technology, saying: “We are on the verge of image illiteracy. We are on the verge of cinema illiteracy.” On the other hand, the likes of Reese Witherspoon https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/reese-witherspoon-ai-jobs-women-1236723992/ and Sandra Bullock https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sandra-bullock-supports-ai-hollywood-1236724450/ have spoken out in favor of trying to understand AI and implement it in everyday life, while Martin Scorsese has partnered https://variety.com/2026/film/news/martin-scorsese-supports-ai-company-storyboard-movies-1236765037/ with an AI company and says he will use its technology for storyboarding movies. Holland was last seen in “The Crowded Room,” “Uncharted” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”