Opinion | In Hollywood Strike, AI Is Nemesis
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Date: May 5, 2023
"The BBC even commissioned ChatGPT, an AI language model, to create opening monologues for late-night programs affected by the strike. This has sparked indignation..."
Greg's Words
This is just the beginning and it seems almost 'cosmic' with so many influences converging onto this point in time; the fear of covid, remote working, the restructuring of commercial real estate, artificial intelligence's impact on knowledge workers, and now a strike by a vulnerable segment of the job market, writers. Bad timing.
It doesn't take much to favorably compare the most rudimentary content created by ChatGPT with newscasting, copywriting, and scriptwriting. The AI does well enough without much prompt engineering - give the controls to directors and watch the number of soap operas, sitcoms, and nightly talk shows quadruple overnight. With less cost and just as much revenue.
AI doesn't get rid of people, it eliminates rote and mundane processes like creating a treatment, an outline for a show, and creating a script.
So I tried it, with a little help from the AI in the Sky:
"You are a Hollywood writer with decades of experience writing sitcoms for TV. Put together a treatment and the first two acts of a Siendeld show where the characters witness a UFO landing, a job loss, and meeting the most beautiful woman in New York City. Provide the storyline, scene description, and script."
In less than a minute:
Treatment:
In this special episode of Seinfeld, the four main characters - Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer - each experience a close encounter with a UFO landing in Central Park, causing all of their lives to change in unexpected ways. Jerry loses a job opportunity, George loses his job, Elaine meets the most beautiful woman in New York City, and Kramer becomes obsessed with the UFO phenomenon. Through their witty banter and clever situational comedy, the gang comes together to navigate these strange events.
Act 1:
Jerry and George are watching a UFO documentary on TV. They start to debate about the existence of aliens and whether they have visited Earth. Elaine enters, excited about a new job she's been offered, but is also intrigued by the UFO documentary. Kramer bursts in, claiming he saw something strange in Central Park.
Kramer: (Excitedly) "Jerry, George, you won't believe it! I saw something in the park, it was like those UFOs on TV!"
Jerry: (Skeptical) "Kramer, I'm sure it was just a drone or something."
George: (Curious) "What did it look like?"
Kramer: (Describing) "It was round, had flashing lights, and made a humming noise."
Elaine: (Sarcastic) "Sounds like a UFO to me."(the entire response below)
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We've put together a summary of an opinion piece at the Wall Street Journal.
Enjoy.
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Key highlights:
- Hollywood writers' strike could push the industry to consider AI as an alternative for scriptwriting.
- AI like ChatGPT can already create plausible content, indicating the potential for developing TV plots.
- In the future, a select group of superstar writers may continue to capture most rewards, while AI could play a bigger role in the creative process.
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The Hollywood writers' strike has highlighted the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to replace much of what writers do. In nine out of ten scenarios, the parties involved in the strike are likely to come to an agreement and return to work. However, the tenth scenario forces the industry to confront the opportunity presented by AI in scriptwriting, which is already algorithmic in nature.
Executives at the recent Milken conference in Los Angeles discussed the AI opportunity with enthusiasm. The BBC even commissioned ChatGPT, an AI language model, to create opening monologues for late-night programs affected by the strike. This has sparked indignation among journeyman writers who, despite enjoying higher earnings in the streaming era, face increased gig-like uncertainty and often need to hold down day jobs.
Press coverage of the strike has seen many writers citing their race, gender, and sexual orientation as bargaining chips. However, audiences are primarily interested in the quality of the shows, rather than the identity of the writers. AI language models like ChatGPT-3 have shown potential in creating plausible and inventive content, suggesting that they could be suitable for generating TV plots before being capable of big-league news reporting and analysis.
In the future, AI could transform the recommendation engines used by streaming platforms like Netflix. If AI can't find a show viewers like, it might create one tailored to their preferences, complete with realistic CGI actors and scenery.
While AI presents opportunities, it also raises questions about whether it could be harmful in certain contexts. ChatGPT, for example, lacks human biases and creates coherence from the text it feeds on. However, it's important to remember that AI-generated content is machine-like and simulates human expression.
AI is likely to find a home first in the fictional realm, where pitfalls like libel law don't apply. Meanwhile, humans' tastes, preferences, thoughts, and feelings remain predictable most of the time, making them susceptible to the influence of AI algorithms.
The future may see a thin layer of Hollywood superstar writers capturing most of the rewards, while AI plays a larger role in the creative process. The solidarity among journeyman colleagues could wear off as superstar writers return to their valuable, emotionally resonant, and highly investable franchises. Adapting AI to improve the quality and productivity of their work will become a significant focus.
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Tweet: Hollywood writers' strike highlights the potential for AI in scriptwriting. Is this the future of the entertainment industry? #AI #HollywoodStrike #Scriptwriting
Introduction paragraph for LinkedIn post: As the Hollywood writers' strike continues, the industry faces an unexpected consequence: the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to replace human scriptwriters. What does this mean for the future of entertainment and the creative process?
Keyword list: Hollywood, writers' strike, artificial intelligence, AI, scriptwriting, ChatGPT, entertainment industry, future
Image prompt: A film set with a robotic screenwriter typing on a laptop.
Search question: Can artificial intelligence replace human scriptwriters in the entertainment industry?
Suggested song: "The Man-Machine" by Kraftwerk
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Act 1:
Scene 1: Jerry's apartment
Jerry and George are watching a UFO documentary on TV. They start to debate about the existence of aliens and whether they have visited Earth. Elaine enters, excited about a new job she's been offered, but is also intrigued by the UFO documentary. Kramer bursts in, claiming he saw something strange in Central Park.
Kramer: (Excitedly) "Jerry, George, you won't believe it! I saw something in the park, it was like those UFOs on TV!"
Jerry: (Skeptical) "Kramer, I'm sure it was just a drone or something."
George: (Curious) "What did it look like?"
Kramer: (Describing) "It was round, had flashing lights, and made a humming noise."
Elaine: (Sarcastic) "Sounds like a UFO to me."
Scene 2: Central Park
The gang decides to visit Central Park to investigate Kramer's sighting. They arrive just in time to witness a UFO landing. They all hide behind a bush, terrified and amazed.
Jerry: (Whispering) "Okay, I'm a believer now."
Elaine: (Whispering) "This is insane!"
George: (Whispering) "What do we do now?"
Kramer: (Whispering) "We need to tell the world!"
Suddenly, George receives a call from his boss, who fires him over the phone.
George: (Devastated) "I just lost my job!"
Elaine: (Whispers) "This is not the time, George!"
Act 2:
Scene 1: Jerry's apartment
The gang reconvenes at Jerry's apartment, still in disbelief. George is sulking about losing his job. Kramer is researching UFOs and talking about a conspiracy. Elaine is distracted by her new coworker, the most beautiful woman in New York City, who she can't stop talking about.
Jerry: (To George) "You know, I was supposed to do a gig at that new club tonight, but they canceled it. They said they're looking for a 'new direction.'"
George: (Upset) "So we both lost our jobs because of a UFO?!"
Kramer: (Serious) "This is bigger than us, guys. They're here, and they're watching us."
Elaine: (Dreamy) "You should see my new coworker. She's stunning. I can't even concentrate at work."
Scene 2: Monk's Cafe
The gang goes to their favorite coffee shop, Monk's Cafe, to discuss their next moves. George and Jerry contemplate their job prospects. Elaine is preoccupied with her new coworker, while Kramer continues to obsess over the UFO.
Jerry: (To George) "Maybe this is an opportunity for us to try something new."
George: (Sarcastic) "Yeah, like being unemployed."
Elaine: (Excited) "You guys have to meet her. I've never seen anyone so beautiful."
Kramer: (Conspiratorial) "I've been reading about UFO sightings all over the world. There's a pattern, and we're part of it!"
As Act 2 progresses, the characters try to cope with their new situations. George attempts to apply for various jobs but keeps getting rejected. Jerry starts to explore other career options but feels unsure about what he really wants. Elaine becomes increasingly infatuated with her beautiful coworker, making her question her priorities. Kramer becomes a UFO enthusiast, dedicating all his time to proving the existence of extraterrestrial life.
Act 3:
Scene 1: Jerry's apartment
Jerry and George are discussing their future plans when Elaine enters, looking distraught.
Elaine: (Upset) "I can't take it anymore! I can't focus at work, and I'm starting to feel like a creep."
Jerry: (Sympathetic) "Maybe you should just talk to her, get to know her as a person."
George: (Nodding) "Yeah, beauty isn't everything."
Kramer enters, excited about a UFO convention he's planning to attend.
Kramer: (Energetic) "I've got it, Jerry! I'm going to the biggest UFO convention in the country. This is my calling!"
Scene 2: Central Park
The gang decides to revisit the UFO landing site, hoping to find some closure. They arrive and see a film crew packing up their equipment.
Jerry: (Realizing) "It was a movie shoot! No wonder I lost that gig at the club. They must have been filming there."
George: (Relieved) "So I didn't lose my job because of aliens?"
Kramer: (Disappointed) "But what about all the other sightings?"
Elaine: (Wise) "Maybe we're all just looking for something extraordinary to make sense of our lives."
Scene 3: Monk's Cafe
The gang is back at their favorite spot, reflecting on their experiences.
Jerry: (To George) "I got a call from the club. They want me to perform next week."
George: (Smiling) "I got a job interview tomorrow."
Elaine: (Confident) "I finally talked to her. Turns out, she's really nice and we have a lot in common."
Kramer: (Accepting) "Maybe I got a little carried away with the UFO stuff."
They all laugh and continue their conversation, appreciating the ordinary moments that make their lives truly extraordinary.
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