Hollywood Writers Strike for Higher Pay and Limits on ChatGPT
On Monday, thousands of television and movie writers represented by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike demanding higher pay and more writers staffing writers' rooms. This is the first major Hollywood walkout since 2007 when more than 12,000 members stopped working for 100 days.
Writers are also demanding that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) be restricted in the production of "literary materials" such as scripts, outlines, and treatments. This includes the use of AI to generate story ideas or write scripts. The WGA is concerned that AI may replace human writers, leading to job loss and a lack of diversity in the industry.
Although WGA writers make an average of $250,000 per year, the structure of writers' rooms means that most writers experience boom and bust times. Residuals – payments from the reuse of material such as syndicated reruns or in-flight entertainment – used to help writers withstand those droughts. However, in the streaming era, residuals pay at a much lower rate, which many writers say is causing financial strain.
Writers want to ensure they can continue to make a living wage doing what they do best – writing. If they lose their power, then there is a possibility they will be replaced by AI entirely. The WGA strike will likely have far-reaching consequences, and the use of AI in the industry may change in some ways.
It is an open question whether AI will be used to break writers' rooms or will be more of a work-enhancement tool available for the taking, but the concern is real. While AI tools can help with writer's block or generate ideas, it should not replace human writers. The WGA wants to protect its members from the potential loss of jobs to AI, but new non-union competitors will surely enter the marketplace at some point, using AI tools to their advantage.
The strike is not just about money. Writers want to ensure their profession is protected against the growing threat of AI. If successful, the WGA may secure its A.I. moratorium and ensure its members have a secure future in the industry. But, regardless of the outcome, ChatGPT and similar AI tools are likely to change the industry, and Hollywood will never be the same again.
