PLAY PODCASTS
Paul Stenhouse: Screenwriters are fighting to keep AI from taking their jobs

Paul Stenhouse: Screenwriters are fighting to keep AI from taking their jobs

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame · Newstalk ZB

May 5, 20234m 40s

Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (pdst.fm) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.

Show Notes

Screenwriters are fighting to keep AI from taking their jobs 

After negotiations stalled, the writers went on strike on Tuesday, halting productions. As well as wanting more royalties from streaming services, changes to minimum durations of work and more, there is a concern about how the advances in AI will impact their jobs going forward - especially as studios and networks look to save money. 

The Guild wants AI to stay as far away from their work as possible, effectively banning AI from generating text or images to produce, or conceive ideas. The specifically want AI banned from writing or rewriting literary material, AI generation being used for source material, or for union-covered material to be used to train AI. 

The studios don't want these stipulations in the collective bargaining agreement, but instead want to review the technology each year and discuss how it could be used in the industry. 

Adding to the complication is that AI generated material can't be copyrighted. and that the WGA defines a writer as a "person" which may even allow studios to use AI without crossing the picket line during the strike. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Topics

techPaul Stenhouseaiscreenwritingscreenwriters strikewga