Members of Congress shared whether Hollywood's striking actors and writers should be concerned about artificial intelligence ultimately taking their jobs. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lawmakers were torn on whether actors and writers should be concerned about artificial intelligence taking their jobs, with one Republican lawmaker saying the "spoiled" Hollywood professionals should get back to work at their "overpaid" jobs. "Hollywood is a bunch of spoiled brat degenerates, and they ought to get back to work," Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican, said. "They are overpaid and under worked. The rest of this country gets by on a lot less."

Hollywood's actors and writers will join forces on the picket line from Friday, after studios failed to reach a deal this week with the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). It is the first time the two unions have been on strike simultaneously since 1960, when actor – and future US president – Ronald Reagan led the protests. Among SAG-AFTRA's 160,000-strong ranks are many of the world's biggest stars. Hollywood's A-listers, from Tom Cruise to Angelina Jolie to Johnny Depp, are card-carrying union members. Stars including Meryl Streep, Ben Stiller and Colin Farrell have come out publicly in favour of the strike.