After almost five months, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached an agreement with the Hollywood studios to end the writers' strike. The writers will be able to resume their work under the conditions established by their new contract.
During the historic strike, AI emerged as a key point of contention between writers and studios. Although text-based generative AI tools like ChatGPT are very creatively limited as is, writers were concerned that studios were still trying to take advantage of these rapidly developing tools to avoid paying syndicate members.
"I'm not worried about technology," comedy writer Adam Conover said at the start of the strike. “I am concerned that companies are using technology, which is actually not very good, to undermine our working conditions.”
Along with better residual pay, minimal staff in the writers' room and other terms that help writers make a living, the new WGA contract outlines limitations on how AI can be used in writers' rooms.
Under the agreement, AI cannot be used to write or rewrite scripts, and AI-generated writing cannot be considered source material, preventing writers from losing writing credits due to AI.
On an individual level, writers may choose to use writing tools. Artificial Intelligence if they wish. However, a company cannot require writers to use certain writing tools. artificial intelligence while they work in a production. Studios must also inform writers if they receive any AI-generated material to incorporate into a work.
The WGA summarizes the contract stating: "The WGA reserves the right to assert that exploitation of writers' material to train AI is prohibited by contract or other law."
Currently, the legal relationship between major language models and copyrighted material is murky. But when federal and state laws lag behind, the WGA's bargaining agreement makes clear that union members do not consent to their labor being used to train studios' AI.
The actors union SAG-AFTRA remains on strike and on Monday its members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike against the video game industry as well. While negotiating on behalf of stunt, motion capture and voice actors in video games, SAG-AFTRA has also expressed concerns about how AI could be used to undermine the creative work of union members.
"For many artists, their first job may be their last, as companies are increasingly eager to scan our members or train AI with their voices as soon as they show up for work," reads the eL. site of SAG-AFTRA.
How the contract will play out for SAG-AFTRA members is yet to be determined, but the WGA agreement sets a precedent for setting limitations on how AI can be used in creative professions.
