‘Plagiarism machine’: Hollywood writers and studios are ‘fighting’ over the future of AI
Disagreement over the role of AI is one of several issues that have sparked protests among scriptwriters in Hollywood.
LOS ANGELES: Writers in Hollywood have been producing scripts about the world of science fiction for decades that depict the possibility of machines taking over the world.
Now, they are fighting to make sure robots don’t ‘take’ their jobs.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is calling for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to be curbed and regulated in film and television scriptwriting.
Reuters reported that Hollywood studios, which are now struggling to make streaming services profitable and facing shrinking advertising revenue, have rejected the idea. According to them, the production studio will be open to discuss new technology once a year.
A spokesman for the Motion Picture and Television Producers Association, which is in contract negotiations on behalf of the production studios, had no comment.
The battle over AI was among several issues sparking protests among Hollywood film and television scriptwriters on Monday.
While the issue is one of the last items on the WGA’s negotiating list, which among other things calls for a focus on improving compensation in the streaming era, the debate over the role of AI in the creative process will determine the future of the entertainment industry for decades to come.
Screenwriter John August, a member of the WGA’s negotiating committee, said the writers had two concerns about AI.
“We do not want the results of our work to be ‘food’ or input to AI, and we will not be involved in correcting the initial AI draft that is not neat,” he said.
AI-related issues have been hotly debated lately, following its evolving role in various global industries.
