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The WGA's AI Wins are Good—But They're Not Enough

Sep 28, 2023 - wired.com
The article discusses the impact of AI on the entertainment industry, particularly on the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Writers Guild of America (WGA), and Directors Guild of America (DGA). The author, a veteran of the industry, highlights how AI has been used to replicate actors' likenesses and voices, plagiarize writers' work, and mimic directors' styles, leading to labor crises and strikes. The DGA and WGA have recently struck deals with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to protect their labor from AI exploitation, but the author questions whether these protections are enough given the rapid advancement of AI and machine learning technologies.

The author suggests that the SAG, which is still on strike, should push for more specific and protective language in their negotiations with the AMPTP. They propose that the agreement should acknowledge that AI will be used by studios regardless of any terms, and that both the unions and the AMPTP are threatened by Big Tech. The author also calls for language addressing AI's inherent biases and the need for everyone involved to understand how these technologies work. They conclude by encouraging people to become deeply involved in the industrial revolution brought about by AI and other technologies, likening this engagement to the pro-labor movement of the Luddites.

Key takeaways:

  • The entertainment industry is facing a labor crisis due to the rapid advancement of AI and machine learning tools, which are replacing actors, plagiarizing writers, and replicating directors' styles.
  • The Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have struck deals with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to protect their labor from being exploited by machine-learning technology.
  • Despite these agreements, there are concerns that they will not offer enough protection for artists, especially marginalized groups, as studios continue to develop and use AI and machine learning tools.
  • The author suggests that everyone involved in the industry should learn how these technologies work and get involved in the industrial revolution, becoming a 'Luddite' - not anti-tech, but pro-labor, fighting to prevent the exploitation and devaluation of their work by technology.
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