The Strike Comes to a Close

After a nearly five-month-long standoff in Tinseltown, the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) announced that the strike, which began on May 2, 2023, is officially over. On September 27, 2023, at the crack of dawn (12:01 am PT to be precise), members celebrated the end of their work stoppage. The cheers of writers could almost be heard echoing through the Hollywood hills at this point.

What Was at Stake?

Wages? Check. Fair contracts? You bet. But the hot-button issue stealing the show was none other than artificial intelligence (AI). For writers, the potential invasion of AI into the content creation process felt more like a horror movie plot than a new technological breakthrough. Back in August, Hollywood studios proposed a plan for AI that left many writers shaking their heads. It was like proposing a salad to someone who ordered a steak.

The Tentative Deal

So what did the WGA and studios finally hash out? The key stipulations include that AI can’t write or rewrite literary material. That’s right, no ChatGPT rewrites for our beloved scripts! Furthermore, AI-generated content wouldn’t be considered “source material,” keeping those pesky robots from claiming credit for all the creative genius out there.

AI: A Writer’s Choice

Let’s get one thing straight — writers maintain the artistic integrity of their work! The new deal clarifies that writers can choose to use AI tools when performing their writing duties, but only with the company’s consent. Imagine a writer saying, “Hey, can I use this AI assistant?” and getting a thumbs-up from the studio. But fear not! Companies can’t force writers to use AI software. It’s a mix of flexibility and autonomy that writers can finally embrace.

Transparency is Key

In what seems like a win for transparency (a concept often treated like a Hollywood secret), the studios must now be open about any AI-generated content that writers receive. It’s like an early version of “What you see is what you get,” but with bonus points for ethical practices. Our dear WGA even stated that they might challenge any exploitation of writers’ material in order to train AI — a protection that will hopefully ensure that writers’ creativity isn’t being used to fatten a machine’s database sleeve.

SAG-AFTRA: Still in the Fight

While the WGA celebrates, there’s still a heavyweight match going on in the ring with SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors and media professionals that joined the fight on July 14, 2023. These guild members are wrestling with similar issues surrounding AI, especially concerning background performers. One of the proposals? A single day of pay in exchange for full ownership of digital likenesses. Let’s just say many actors are not impressed with that deal!

Conclusion: A New Era?

The conclusion of the WGA strike could signify a transformative era in Hollywood, where creative autonomy and technological advancement co-exist peacefully (fingers crossed). Now, if only we could teach AI to stop pretending it can create art, we’d all breathe a little easier.