Evangeline Lilly criticizes Disney over layoffs and AI use

Actress Evangeline Lilly, known from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has voiced her frustration over Disney’s recent layoffs, which reportedly left 1,000 employees out of work. The cuts hit Marvel offices in both New York and Burbank, where Marvel’s visual development team suffered significant losses.

Impact on Marvel and Disney’s future

The layoffs are part of Disney’s strategy to move toward a model that relies on outside contractors for future projects. The decision has major consequences for creative teams like Marvel’s, which in recent years has helped shape some of the most iconic characters and storylines in the film industry.

Lilly, who played Hope van Dyne, also known as The Wasp, in the Ant-Man films and Avengers: Endgame, spoke at length about the impact of the layoffs in a video on her Instagram account. In her conversation with Marvel artist Andy Park, who was involved in designing her superhero costume, she learned that he had also been laid off.

Criticism of AI use

In her video, Lilly raised concerns that the recent layoffs may be partly tied to Disney’s growing use of artificial intelligence (AI). She expressed frustration with AI replacing human artists and argued that the designers who brought these characters to life are now being pushed aside. Lilly called for greater protection for the creations of human artists so their work cannot be used without compensation or recognition.

"The people who invented these characters are now being replaced by AI," Lilly said. "AI that uses their designs to make iterations without them getting fair compensation." Her comments highlight broader concerns about the ethics of AI in the creative industry, where questions are increasingly being raised about who owns creative work generated by algorithms.

Disney’s response to the layoffs

In an internal memo to staff, sent by Disney’s newly appointed CEO Josh D’Amaro, the reason for the layoffs was described as an effort to streamline the company’s operations and foster a more "agile and technology-driven" workplace. However, the use of terms like "streamlining" has raised suspicion among many, including Lilly, who believes it undermines the human elements of creativity and craftsmanship.

Lilly’s concerns and criticism could play an important role in the ongoing debate over the role of technology and AI in the creative sector, and how companies like Disney treat their employees and creatives in the face of these changes.