Artificial Intelligence (AI) has prompted concerns in Hollywood when it comes to film and TV screenwriting. At the forefront of the Writers Guild of America’s recent strike is fear over chatbots being used to write or rewrite scripts. The writers' union is primarily striking for better pay and job security since the rise of streaming has changed the industry's rules. However, the use of AI is a growing concern.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a generative AI system that can create dialogue and writing, is particularly worrying screenwriters. Although it is currently not a competent writer, some industry insiders believe that it could improve. AI chatbots could be used to write a rough first draft with some simple prompts, such as “a heist movie set in Beijing.” Screenwriters would then be hired to improve the writing, but at a lower pay rate.
AI could also be used to generate screenplays in the style of known writers. For example, a comedy in the voice of Nora Ephron, or a gangster film that sounds like Mario Puzo. While we may not see the next “Casablanca” anytime soon, AI could create the basis for a mediocre Liam Neeson thriller.
While the WGA’s basic agreement states that only a human’s work can be copyrighted, there are various ways in which AI could be used to craft outlines, add scenes, and create drafts. The rise of AI in Hollywood is something that screenwriters will need to contend with, even as they take to picket lines for better pay and job security.
