Actor, director, and tech entrepreneur Joseph Gordon-Levitt issued a warning about unchecked artificial intelligence development in a recent essay, arguing that AI companies are trying to legalize data theft and bypass compensating the very people whose work built the foundation of the technology.

“I believe AI has the power to transform our world in beautiful, nourishing, life-affirming ways,” wrote Gordon-Levitt in a post on his blog. “I don’t want us to ‘pause,’ I don’t even expect us to slow down. I want to see us roll up our sleeves and build big, bold, innovative things. Couldn’t our country set up a system of technology and policy to incentivize human ingenuity by compensating people for their hard work? I know it’s a tall order, but couldn’t we meet that challenge with inspiration and pride?”

He argued that without proper protections, AI companies will centralize power and profits by extracting data—writing, art, photos, lectures—without permission or payment. He likened these proposals to an “Orwellian pro-theft policy,” warning that creators, educators, and knowledge workers are at risk of being economically displaced by models trained on their own output.

While acknowledging the need for AI in national defense, Gordon-Levitt emphasized that these companies are primarily designed to pursue profit—not serve democracy. He challenged policymakers to build systems that reward innovation without sacrificing ownership, agency, or fairness.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an actor, filmmaker, and founder of HITRECORD, a collaborative media platform. His writing often explores the intersection of technology, creativity, and ethics.