The Writers Strike Is Taking a Stand on AI

The last time the Writers Guild of America went on strike, in 2007, workers pushed back against the nascent streaming industry, advocating for higher residual payments for content released over streaming. Now a new technology, artificial intelligence, stands to drastically change Hollywood again as Guild strikers return to the picket line. Streaming giants like Hulu, Netflix, and Disney have come to dominate the industry, changing the models by which content is produced and distributed and making it increasingly difficult for writers to earn a sustainable income. And as artificial intelligence technology rapidly improves, the WGA aims to place limits on the use of AI in movies and TV scripts. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) --which is negotiating the contract on behalf of Hollywood studios, streamers, and production companies--say their priority is "the long-term health and stability of the industry" and they are dedicated to reaching "a fair and reasonable agreement" according to the Associated Press.