After 148 days of strike, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), effectively ending the writers’ strike in the film industry. The agreement includes concessions won by the writers, notably “strong limitations on A.I.” The WGA Contract 2023 website provides a summary of the new agreement, which outlines regulations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in writing projects. The provisions state that AI cannot write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material. While writers can choose to use AI with the consent of the company, the company cannot require the use of AI software. The agreement also requires disclosure if any materials provided to the writer have been generated by AI. The Writers Guild also reserves the right to assert that the exploitation of writers’ material to train AI is prohibited by the agreement or other laws. However, it remains to be seen how studios will implement the use of AI and whether they will prioritize writers who are open to using it.
With the writers’ strike resolved, the attention now turns to the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and their ongoing strike with the studios. SAG-AFTRA will need to establish its own principles regarding AI and 3D scanning. A recent report by VentureBeat explores the history, current state, and future outlook of AI and 3D scanning technology in Hollywood. The report delves into the role of technology in the industry and its impact on actors and their performances. It will be interesting to see how SAG-AFTRA negotiates the use of AI and 3D scanning and what principles they establish to protect their members’ rights and creative control.
In conclusion, the writers’ strike in the film industry has come to an end with an agreement between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The agreement includes regulations on the use of AI in writing projects, such as prohibiting AI from writing or rewriting literary material and requiring disclosure if AI-generated materials are used. The Writers Guild reserves the right to protect writers’ material from being exploited for AI training. The resolution of the writers’ strike now shifts the focus to the ongoing strike between the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the studios, where they need to address the use of AI and 3D scanning.