VISIONQUEST Showrunner Confirms Marvel Series Used No Generative AI, but It Does Poke Fun at AI’s Failings

Marvel’s VisionQuest is diving headfirst into a world populated by artificial intelligence, but the production itself stayed away from generative AI. Instead, the creative team found a much more entertaining use for the technology by making fun of the weird stuff it gets wrong.

Showrunner Terry Matalas confirmed that generative AI wasn’t used in the making of the Marvel series, despite VisionQuest being one of the rare MCU projects where its use could have actually fit the story.

"No, not at all," Matalas confirmed to ScreenRant about not using it. "There hasn't really been a need. All the designs nod to how our current form of AI processes things... That felt like a fun way for us to comment on it."

That commentary has been worked directly into Vision’s Mindspace, where human versions of several AI characters exist inside his head. Production designer Will Hughes-Jones incorporated some familiar generative AI screwups into the environment, including stair bannisters that lead nowhere, chairs built into walls, and furniture that looks just a little off.

Anyone who has spent time looking at AI-generated images will probably recognize the joke. Instead of using the technology to build Vision’s strange digital world, the production team recreated its visual mistakes themselves.

Marvel has experimented with generative AI before. Secret Invasion used the technology for its opening title sequence, a decision that generated plenty of controversy at the time. Generative AI, however, hasn’t become a major part of how Marvel Studios produces its MCU movies and shows.

As for VisionQuest, the series is a followup to WandaVision and continues the story of White Vision. He has regained Vision’s memories, but those experiences don't carry the emotional connection they once did.

The story follows White Vision as he tries to make sense of his past and figure out his humanity while interacting with other AI entities inside his mind, including his creator, Ultron.

His problems aren't limited to what's happening inside his head. There's also a bounty hunter coming after him, along with a developing partnership with a young man who may turn out to be his son.

VisionQuest premieres on Disney+ on October 14.