Hollywood Writer's Strike: The Fear of AI in Screenwriting
The Hollywood writers' strike has sparked unease about generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment industry. ChatGPT, an AI program, has only been around for six months, yet it has already caused widespread concern among screenwriters. AI's ability to write and rewrite scripts has raised the fear that their jobs may be replaced by machines.
The strike by TV and film screenwriters is centered around pay, but the potential for robots to take over their jobs in the future has fueled further anger and fear. Studios like Netflix and Disney have refused to rule out the possibility of AI replacing human scribes in the future. AI programs such as ChatGPT have rapidly advanced to mimic human conversation, which has spooked many industries, including Hollywood. The White House even summoned Big Tech to discuss the potential risks of AI.
Screenwriters fear that AI chatbots could replace them and even create a rough first draft of a script with a few simple prompts. The writers would then be hired, but at a lower pay rate, to finish the job. The Writers Guild of America's agreement specifies that a writer is a "person," and only human work can be copyrighted. Although no one would see an "By AI" writer's credit at the beginning of a movie, regenerative AI could be used to write outlines, fill in scenes, and mock up drafts.
The fear remains high among screenwriters that their creative jobs could be replaced by machines. However, it is essential to note that AI is still in its early stages. It may be a while before AI has the ability to write full scripts without human intervention. But for now, screenwriters continue to strike for their rights to fair pay and to keep their role in the creative process of screenwriting.
