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Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a major topic of concern in Hollywoods labor disputes. In addition to traditional issues like pay models, benefits, and job protections, AI technology has become the wildcard causing contract breakdowns and strikes by actors and writers unions.

The emergence of AI technology that can create without human creators has raised fears among star actors that they may lose control over their lucrative likenesses. Unknown actors are concerned about being replaced altogether, while writers worry about having to share or lose credit to machines.

The proposed contracts that led to the strikes are only for three years, and while the pace of AI development is rapid, widescale displacement of writers and actors is unlikely within that timeframe. However, both unions and employers are aware that concessions made in one contract can be difficult to reclaim in the future.

AI technology has already been incorporated into various aspects of filmmaking. It has been used to de-age actors, generate animated images, and provide recommendations on streaming platforms like Netflix. All parties involved in the strikes acknowledge that broader use of AI in the industry is inevitable, which is why they are now focused on establishing legal and creative control.

Actor and writer Johnathan McClain compares this battle to struggles over automation in other industries, highlighting the importance of taking a stand in the current moment.

In the negotiations between the Screen Actors GuildAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), both sides have differing views on AI. SAG-AFTRA accused the studios of wanting to use performers likenesses and alter their dialogue without consent, while the AMPTP argued that their AI proposal protects performers digital likenesses and requires consent for their use.

In the screenwriters contract talks, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) expressed willingness to use AI as a tool for their own work but wants to ensure it does not affect credits for their scripts. They want to prevent AI-generated storylines or dialogue from being considered literary material or source material, as it could impact their prestige and pay.

The position of the studios is that AI-generated material would not be eligible for writing credit, which may alleviate concerns about sharing credit with AI but could further complicate determining writing credits in collaborations involving AI.

Overall, AIs impact on Hollywoods labor disputes is significant, and stakeholders are grappling with how to navigate this new terrain while protecting the rights and interests of all involved.

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Artificial Intelligence Takes Center Stage in Hollywood's Labor ... - Fagen wasanni