Writers halt AI takeover...for now

Last Wednesday (27 September), the Writers Guild of America (WGA) voted unanimously to end the 148-day strike – one of the longest in Hollywood history. The new three-year deal is being hailed by WGA leadership as ‘exceptional’, particularly with regard to the use of AI in the creative process.

While the contract is still in its ratification stage (union members have this week to vote it through), writers were allowed to return to work last week – buoyed by the prospect of better compensation, regulation of the use of technology, and transparency around streamers’ viewership numbers. At least until 2026, that is.

Specifically, the agreement states that AI cannot be used to write or rewrite literary material, and that AI-generated material will not be considered source material, ‘meaning that AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights’. 

While writers are free to use AI if they choose (with the consent of the company and in line with company policies), ‘the company can’t require the writer to use AI software (e.g., ChatGPT) when performing writing services’. The WGA also asserts that companies must disclose to a writer if any materials given to the writer have been generated by AI or incorporate AI-generated material, and that using writers’ material to train AI is prohibited.

‘AI is under control of the writers, not under control of the studios,’ Simon Johnson, an economist at MIT who studies technological transformation, told the Guardian. ‘It’s not to be used as an automation technology. It’s complementary to humans… I’m hoping it will be a model for the rest of the economy.’

Leaders of the actors’ union Sag-Aftra, which remains on strike, would agree – the use of AI is a major sticking point for actors concerned about their digital likenesses. Just this Monday, actor Tom Hanks warned his Instagram followers that an ad for a dental plan featuring a computer-generated image of him was fake. ‘Beware!!’ he wrote. ‘I have nothing to do with it.’

Attempts to adopt AI ‘as a normal operating procedure’ are ‘literally dehumanising the workforce,’ said Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston at a picket line outside the Sony studio lot in August. ‘It’s not good for society. It’s not good for our environment. It’s not good for working-class families.’

Until Sag-Aftra and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) reach their own agreement (the parties met on Monday and resume talks today), most productions remain at a standstill. ‘Everyone acts like “it’s back”, but we are still on strike,’ actor Sarah Jane Morris told the LA Times from an Amazon picket line. ‘Nothing is going back until our deal is settled.'

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