By Sofia Villa
Sep 28, 2023, 7:42 PM EDT
The debate over the use of artificial intelligence, “AI,” was among the most sensitive points of the discussion during the writers’ strike that left 5 billion dollars in losses in the entertainment industry, all due to lack of content in the studios. of film and television, which also affected streaming platforms such as Netflix or Disney.
And finally, after almost 150 days, these Hollywood geniuses returned to their posts, who, like silent heroes, behind the cameras, provoke all kinds of feelings, laughter or tears, filling the pockets of their bosses with the millions of profits they earned. they leave the industry.
And I would dare say that a deal with the devil was reached between the Writers Guild of America (WGAW) and Hollywood regarding the limitations for the application of “AI” in creativity.
Can you imagine what would happen if the famous Oscar statuettes had to say and “the award goes to… ChatGPT?”
This is how this industry advances, despite the fact that in addition to better salaries, retirement benefits and sharing profits from repetition or streaming of programs, the writers wanted to make it clear that Artificial Intelligence must have limits. Although there is little they can really do.
After the tentative agreement, it is clear that this is a very particular strike, because they were debating the risks of replacing the pen that made geniuses like Shakespeare or Arthur Miller and the Magical Realism of Gabriel García Márquez immortal, in exchange for computers, which would be trained to tell stories or scripts about love and war, the return of the dead or aliens like the popular ET by Steven Spielberg.
The thing is that there is still ink to clarify how to handle that contract until May 2026, because it includes protection clauses on artificial intelligence, but it is true that soon this technology will affect good writers, those who could now put more than $9,000 per half hour episode.
Elon Musk warned about the risks of artificial intelligence. And the agreement is that the studios would not write or rewrite material. Writers are also tied, since they will not be able to receive robotic help because it would affect their rights and nor will production companies be able to require them to use that software for their creative writing.
But we cannot deceive ourselves, it is no secret to anyone that the penetration of technology into all human activities is inevitable. And again, the question is not if they will do it, the big question is when do these avatars become unfair competition like machines vs. human talent?
The author, Sofía Villa, writes this column in her personal capacity and her opinions do not represent Televisa-Univision where she works as a Writer/Producer.