Interstellar star Matthew McConaughey believes awards like the Oscars could introduce new categories such as Best AI Film in the coming years.

Recently, McConaughey and his Interstellar co-star Timothée Chalamet took part in a panel discussion hosted by Variety and CNN at the University of Texas in the United States. The two actors shared their perspectives on working in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, offering students advice on how to make use of AI. The conversation is scheduled to air on February 21.

In a promotional video released on February 19, McConaughey drew attention by telling Chalamet that AI could one day replace human actors, potentially reshaping awards such as the Academy Awards. He predicted that new categories—like Best AI Film or Best AI Actor—could emerge within a few years. According to him, AI may eventually become so sophisticated that audiences can no longer tell whether a work was created by machines or humans, or even notice AI’s presence at all.

“One of the biggest questions right now is: what is reality?” McConaughey said. “I think reality is more blurred than ever—both exciting and frightening at the same time. You should prepare for this future. Take ownership of your path so that at least you still have control when AI begins to move in.”

Despite the concerns, McConaughey argued that people should not reject AI outright. Instead, he urged creatives to turn it into a tool that provides a competitive edge. In his view, standing outside the AI wave and making purely moral objections that “AI is wrong” is not enough to stop it—especially when the technology is highly profitable and extremely productive.

“I have to say: own yourself—your voice, your image, and everything else,” he added. “Copyright it all. Do whatever it takes so that when AI arrives, no one can steal you.”

According to Entertainment Weekly, the actor’s advice is rooted in personal experience. In November 2025, McConaughey signed an agreement with ElevenLabs, allowing AI to generate voice models of him in multiple languages. In January, he also registered the copyright for his famous catchphrase “Alright, alright, alright,” spoken by his character in Dazed and Confused.

McConaughey’s comments come at a time when AI is steadily expanding its footprint in the entertainment industry, sparking intense debate. Initially, many artists and filmmakers opposed the use of AI in creative work, fearing damage to artists’ rights and copyright protections. More recently, however, attitudes in Hollywood have begun to shift, with studios and producers increasingly viewing AI as a supportive tool and learning how to coexist with it.

Now 57, McConaughey is one of Hollywood’s leading actors. He is widely known for roles such as NASA pilot Joseph Cooper in Interstellar and Wooderson in Dazed and Confused. He was once a staple of romantic comedies like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) and Failure to Launch (2006). His career reached a major turning point when he won an Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club. In March 2025, he returned to the big screen with The Rivals of Amziah King, marking his first film project in six years.