The director behind Yung Lean's viral 'Storm' video says AI imitations on social media made even good work look 'lame'

The director of Yung Lean's viral "Storm" video says AI made his work look "lame." Francis Specker/CBS via Getty Images

The director behind Swedish rapper Yung Lean's viral "Storm" video says AI almost drove him from filmmaking.

In an interview with Vulture published on Tuesday, Romain Gavras said he was disheartened by the wave of AI-generated copies of the music video.

Gavras directed the video for "Gener8ion," an audiovisual project he runs with French producer Surkin.

The video, which has amassed over 40 million views since its release in April, follows Lean as a bully at a boarding school before the boys he has been tormenting break into an elaborate dance sequence around him during a class photo.

In September, social media users began using AI to remake the dance scene from "Storm," swapping Lean and the schoolboys for a wide range of new characters, including animals and…