After 148 days, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), one of the major unions in the film industry, has reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to end the writers’ strike. The agreement includes what writer and stand-up comic Adam Conover referred to as “strong limitations on AI.” The new provisions state that AI cannot write or rewrite literary material and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA. Companies can only use AI if the writer consents and if the writer follows applicable company policies. The WGA also reserves the right to prohibit the exploitation of writers’ material to train AI.
While the new provisions seem to allow for the use of AI when writing screenplays, the control and volition must still come from a human writer. The effects of these provisions in practice are yet to be seen, as it remains unclear whether studios will prefer and hire writers who are more open to using AI. The next step is for the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to settle its strike with the studios and establish its own principles regarding AI and 3D scanning.
For a deeper understanding of AI’s history, present, and future outlook in Hollywood, VentureBeat has published a comprehensive report that delves into the technology’s impact on the industry.