Emma Thompson Blasts AI's 'Intense Irritation' on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Oscar-winning screenwriter and actress Emma Thompson recently shared her fiery thoughts on artificial intelligence in creative work, telling Stephen Colbert that AI's interference gives her "intense irritation." And yes, she literally told it to "f off!"

TL;DR: Here's the Scoop!

• Emma Thompson is NOT a fan of AI: She called it an "intense irritation" during her appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
• Her biggest beef? Microsoft Word's Copilot constantly asking to rewrite her scripts, leading to an explicit "f off!" from the Dame.
• She's not alone: Other film heavyweights like Guillermo del Toro and Werner Herzog also share strong anti-AI sentiments, highlighting a growing industry debate.

Alright, film buffs, buckle up! If you thought AI was just a futuristic concept, think again. It's already rubbing some of Hollywood's biggest talents the wrong way, and Dame Emma Thompson, the legendary 66-year-old actress and screenwriter, is leading the charge with a wonderfully explicit rant.

During a recent chat on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (on October 28, 2025, for those keeping track!), Colbert asked Thompson about her feelings on "the coming AI revolution" in Tinseltown. Her answer? Absolutely, positively, no holds barred.

When AI Tries to 'Help' an Oscar-Winning Screenwriter

Thompson didn't mince words, declaring her feelings as "intense irritation. I cannot begin to tell you." Her frustration stems directly from her personal creative process. She's a traditionalist, preferring to write her scripts longhand on a pad. Why? Because she firmly believes "there is a connection between the brain and the hand." For her, this physical act of writing is incredibly important to her work.

After perfecting her handwritten drafts, she eventually transfers them to a Word document. And that's where the "intense irritation" truly kicks in. It seems Microsoft Word's built-in AI assistant, Copilot, has a habit of popping up with unsolicited advice.

"And recently," Thompson explained to Colbert, "the Word document is constantly saying, 'Would you like me to rewrite that for you?'"

Her reaction, as recounted on the show, was priceless (and very relatable for anyone who's fought with tech):

"And so I end up just going, 'I don't need you to rewrite what I've just written, will you f off?! Just f off!' I'm so annoyed."

— Emma Thompson on her AI frustrations

Colbert, ever the comedian, suggested she show her computer the Oscar she won for her 1995 (or 1996, depending on the source reporting) adapted screenplay of Sense and Sensibility. Thompson's quick retort? "I don't think that it would care." Honestly, she's probably right!

Not Her First Rodeo with Rogue Technology: The Hieroglyph Incident

It turns out Thompson's battles with technology predate the current AI boom. She hilariously recounted a major tech mishap from her past while she was putting the finishing touches on her Oscar-winning Sense and Sensibility screenplay.

"I came back from the loo [bathroom] to find that it had changed the entire script into hieroglyphs," she recalled. "Completely gone, the script." Imagine the panic! Without another copy, she rushed to her friend Stephen Fry's house, who spent eight hours trying to recover the lost work.

The result? "It came out in one long sentence." She then "had to re-do it," jokingly adding that "The computer had taken it and hidden it... like it had done it on purpose." Sounds like some serious tech-induced trauma, honestly!

More Than Just Annoyed: A Deeper Concern for Authentic Creativity

Thompson's "intense irritation" isn't just about pesky pop-ups; it's rooted in a deeper philosophical concern for the integrity of creative work. She's also been vocal about her dislike for the industry's use of the term "content" when referring to films and stories.

In 2023, she lamented that being called "content" makes her feel "like the stuffing inside a sofa cushion." She believes it's "a rude word for creative people" and "a very misleading word," reducing art to mere filler. For Thompson, focusing on raw honesty and authenticity is crucial for a script's efficacy. "You find your audience by being completely authentic," she stated, warning that formulaic writing leads to films that leave you feeling "a bit ill."

Her stance highlights a growing tension in Hollywood: the push for efficiency and algorithm-driven production versus the preservation of human artistry and genuine storytelling.

Other Hollywood Heavyweights Join the Anti-AI Chorus

Emma Thompson is far from the only respected voice in Hollywood pushing back against the increasing presence of AI. This issue was a significant sticking point during the 2023 industry strikes, with actors and writers expressing serious concerns about studios using AI to replicate performances or generate scripts without proper compensation or consent.

Just recently, acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro, known for visually stunning and emotionally rich films, echoed a similar sentiment. When asked about his stance on generative AI in filmmaking, his response was short and definitive: "I'd rather die." The 61-year-old filmmaker, whose latest movie Frankenstein is due on Netflix on November 7, stated he hopes to "remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak."

Even legendary German director Werner Herzog has weighed in, observing that AI-generated films he'd seen "look completely dead." It's clear that for many seasoned creatives, the human touch, intuition, and even the "connection between the brain and the hand" that Thompson values, are irreplaceable components of true art.

Thompson's Current Projects and the Future of Human Creativity

Despite her ongoing skirmishes with technology, Emma Thompson remains a prolific and celebrated artist. She's currently promoting her new TV detective series, Down Cemetery Road, which premiered on Apple TV+ on October 29. She also recently earned rave reviews for her performance in the film The Dead of Winter.

Her passionate outburst on The Late Show serves as a powerful reminder of the value of human creativity in an increasingly automated world. It's a call to arms for artists to protect their unique processes and for audiences to appreciate the authentic, sometimes messy, magic that only human minds can create. So, next time your Word document tries to rewrite your masterpiece, you know what to tell it!

Frequently Asked Questions About Emma Thompson and AI

What did Emma Thompson say about AI in her writing process? She expressed "intense irritation" with AI, particularly Microsoft Word's Copilot, for constantly suggesting rewrites of her scripts. She explicitly told it to "f off!" What Oscar did Emma Thompson win for screenwriting? Emma Thompson won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1995 (or 1996, depending on the reporting) for her work on Sense and Sensibility. Are other prominent filmmakers against AI in Hollywood? Yes, many notable filmmakers oppose AI. Guillermo del Toro famously said he'd "rather die" than use generative AI, and Werner Herzog noted AI-generated films often "look completely dead." This sentiment was a key factor in the 2023 Hollywood strikes. What new project is Emma Thompson promoting? Emma Thompson is promoting her new detective series, Down Cemetery Road, which is available on Apple TV+ and premiered on October 29. Sources

• Deadline: Emma Thompson On AI Interfering With Writing Process: "Just F Off. I'm So Annoyed"
• The Guardian: Emma Thompson speaks of her ‘intense irritation’ with AI
• Variety: Emma Thompson Tells AI to ‘Just F— Off!’ and Calls It an ‘Intense Irritation’ as a Screenwriter
• Yardbarker/BANG Showbiz: Dame Emma Thompson slams use of AI
• The A.V. Club: Dame Emma Thompson cusses out AI trying to rewrite her work
• India Today: Annoyed Emma Thompson blasts AI for meddling in her writing process: Just fk off
• News18: 'Just Fk Off': Emma Thompson Slams AI Interference In Creative Writing
• ANI News: Emma Thompson describes AI as "annoying"
• HuffPost UK: Dame Emma Thompson Explains Exactly Why She Tells AI To ‘F Off’