Paul Stenhouse: Screenwriters are fighting to keep AI from taking their jobs

2023-05-05

Screenwriters are fighting to keep AI from taking their jobs After negotiations stalled, the writers went on strike on Tuesday, halting productions. As well as wanting more royalties from streaming services, changes to minimum durations of work and more, there is a concern about how the advances in AI will impact their jobs going forward - especially as studios and networks look to save money. The Guild wants AI to stay as far away from their work as possible, effectively banning AI from g...

Screenwriters are fighting to keep AI from taking their jobs

After negotiations stalled, the writers went on strike on Tuesday, halting productions. As well as wanting more royalties from streaming services, changes to minimum durations of work and more, there is a concern about how the advances in AI will impact their jobs going forward - especially as studios and networks look to save money.

The Guild wants AI to stay as far away from their work as possible, effectively banning AI from generating text or images to produce, or conceive ideas. The specifically want AI banned from writing or rewriting literary material, AI generation being used for source material, or for union-covered material to be used to train AI.

The studios don't want these stipulations in the collective bargaining agreement, but instead want to review the technology each year and discuss how it could be used in the industry.

Adding to the complication is that AI generated material can't be copyrighted. and that the WGA defines a writer as a "person" which may even allow studios to use AI without crossing the picket line during the strike.

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