T.The last time the Writers Guild of America went on strike was in 2007, when workers rallied against the nascent streaming industry and called for higher balances on content released via streaming. Now that Guild strikers are back on the picket line, a new technology, artificial intelligence, is once again poised to dramatically change Hollywood.
Streaming giants such as Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+ have come to dominate the industry, changing the model of content production and distribution, making it increasingly difficult for writers to earn a sustainable income. And as artificial intelligence technology improves rapidly, the WGA aims to put limits on the use of AI in film and television scripts.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which is negotiating deals on behalf of Hollywood studios, streamers and production companies, said its priority is the “long-term health and stability of the industry”. I am dedicated to A “fair and reasonable agreement” was reached, according to the Associated Press.
The WGA has proposed regulations on using AI to create source material and write or rewrite literary material. A chart of negotiating proposals released by the WGA on Monday shows that AMPTP rejected their proposal and instead countered it at its “annual meeting to discuss technological advances.” (WGA and AMPTP have not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.)
important moment
The battle over AI is just one aspect of the union’s demand to ensure fair rewards in the streaming age. (The guild’s top priority is to fight for increased rewards and balance money.
“When are we on the precipice, politically? [AI technology] be institutionalized. Alex Hanna, Director of Research at the Distributed AI Lab, said: “Once it’s institutionalized, it’s hard to get rid of.”
AI technology is nothing new, but it has quickly become mainstream as companies push to adopt the technology. “[We’re seeing a] AI Now Institute Managing Director Sarah Myers West said:
Jobs on the line?
Commercial hiring has cast doubts across the sector about potential job cuts. “It’s not what AI does that matters, but which companies use it to justify it,” he says. In the studio, fewer people can be in the writer’s room, and writing with generative AI. His content may later be edited by the writer. “They can use the AI to write the first draft, and then have someone else write his second draft. It devalues their work,” he says Meyers West.
Experts say the technology isn’t advanced enough to replace writers yet, but it could make creative work more like copywriting. “AI won’t necessarily replace jobs, but it will become more mundane,” he says Meyers West.
Issues across industries
In recent months, creators across industries have been sounding the alarm about the intrusion of artificial intelligence. Many artificial intelligence systems use the work of their creators to teach tools to produce something similar, raising intellectual property concerns.
The Screen Actors Guild-Television and Radio Artists Alliance (SAG-AFTRA) released a statement in March calling for negotiations on using artificial intelligence to simulate the performances of actors, calling for “human creators to be creative. It is the foundation of the industry and we must ensure that they are respected and paid for the work they do.” Also, Universal Music Group says AI companies are “scraping” music to An AI-created collaboration between Drake and The Weeknd fooled the internet just a week after asking the service to stop them from creating counterfeits.
WGA is one of the first creative unions to tackle AI, but others may join soon. “I think there will be more jobs in fields like journalism and graphic design that can be automated with a lot of manual modification later on,” he says.
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