The contract also asserts the WGA's right to prohibit the use of writers' material to train AI. This comes amidst concerns about the exploitation of copyrighted material by large language models. The actors union, SAG-AFTRA, remains on strike, with concerns about AI undermining union members' creative work. The WGA's agreement sets a precedent for establishing limitations on how AI can be used in creative professions.
Key takeaways:
- The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached an agreement with Hollywood studios to end the writers strike, with new contract conditions including limitations on how AI can be used in writers’ rooms.
- According to the agreement, AI cannot be used to write or rewrite scripts, and AI-generated writing cannot be considered source material, protecting writers from losing out on writing credits due to AI.
- While writers can choose to use AI tools individually, a company cannot mandate that writers use certain AI tools while working on a production. Studios must also inform writers if they are given any AI-generated materials to incorporate into a work.
- The actors union, SAG-AFTRA, is still on strike and has also expressed concerns about how AI could be used to undermine union members’ creative work. The WGA’s agreement sets a precedent for establishing limitations against how AI can be used in creative professions.