Tom Holland is positioning himself as a thoughtful artist who understands the irreplaceable value of human creativity. His comments suggest he's confident in his craft's future and dismissive of tech threats — classic A-list reassurance for nervous industry workers.
Insiders note that while Holland speaks confidently about feeling 'protected,' many working actors, writers, and below-the-line crew aren't sleeping as well. SAG-AFTRA's recent endorsement of the Trump administration's AI framework has sparked quiet concern among members who feel their union moved too fast on tech protections.
Holland made these comments during an appearance on Spain's El Hormiguero talk show, filmed at the Four Seasons in Madrid on June 15, 2026. Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order requiring AI companies to provide government access to new models for a 30-day review period before public release.
Holland's soul argument is poetic, but Hollywood's AI wars are far from over — and the actors who can't afford his confidence may end up paying the price.
Tom Holland wants you to know that artificial intelligence will never replace him. Or any of us, really. The Spider-Man star appeared on Spain's El Hormiguero talk show this week — promoting what appears to be the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day — and delivered a surprisingly philosophical defense of human creativity in the age of generative AI.
"Creativity is safe from AI because creativity has to do with the human experience," Holland declared. "It's about emotions, it's about understanding one another." That's right, internet: Peter Parker thinks your feelings are safe from the algorithm. For now.
The BAFTA winner didn't stop there. When pressed on whether Hollywood creatives should worry about machines eating their jobs, Holland doubled down with a line that sounds like it belongs in a Marvel sequel's inspirational monologue. "AI can sift through data, but it can't understand people's emotions," he explained.
"It doesn't understand the difference between being happy and being sad." And then came the zinger: "[AI] doesn't have a soul." Holland added that artists' work isn't about copying — it's about expressing oneself. "So I feel protected," he concluded. Well, good for him.
The guy who plays a superhero for a living apparently also believes he's invincible against Silicon Valley's best attempts at replicating human artistry. But here's where the story gets interesting — and where my inner investigative instincts kick in. While Holland was busy reassuring the world that his job security is ironclad, back in Washington, the future of AI regulation in Hollywood was taking a much murkier turn.
SAG-AFTRA has officially endorsed the Trump administration's AI policy framework, which calls for Congress to enact legislation covering parental controls, intellectual property rights protection, First Amendment safeguards, and — notably — removing legal barriers that limit AI innovation. Yes, you read that correctly: the actors' union just backed a framework that includes provisions making it easier for AI companies to innovate. Earlier this month, Trump also signed an executive order establishing a voluntary system where AI companies provide the government access to new models for a 30-day review period before release.
So while Holland sits pretty in Madrid telling Spanish audiences he's got nothing to worry about, the union representing thousands of working actors is out here making deals that could reshape what "protected" even means in Hollywood. The irony isn't lost on anyone paying attention. A-listers like Holland can afford to be philosophical about AI — they have leverage, residuals, and lawyers.
It's the day players, background actors, and voice performers who might find themselves less "protected" when studios start running cost-benefit analyses on whether to scan a human face or just generate one. Holland's comments landed with the confidence of someone who's never had to audition for anything after age 22 — which, to be fair, he basically hasn't. But his optimism about human creativity prevailing over artificial intelligence is exactly the kind of take that plays well at photocalls and poorly in Writers Guild contract negotiations.
The soul argument is compelling theater. It just doesn't hold up when you remember that Hollywood has a long history of telling artists their "soul" doesn't pay the bills if the spreadsheet says otherwise.
