New Deal Allows Hollywood to Use Writers’ Work for AI Training

Hollywood studios may gain legal rights to train AI models using human writers’ works, as reported in a tentative labor agreement disclosed by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The WSJ cites anonymous sources and mentions that writers are set to receive compensation and recognition for their contributions, regardless of AI assistance.

This tentative agreement was reached after a strike that began in May and involves the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Official details of the agreement are pending, with the WGA planning to reveal terms after a vote by its leaders, potentially on Tuesday.

The strike was partly sparked by concerns about the growing influence of AI in scriptwriting and marketing within the entertainment industry. Warner Bros Discovery, a major media and entertainment company, reportedly engaged with OpenAI to utilize ChatGPT for various functions, including generating show descriptions for its Max streaming service.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT, developed using publicly available data, has faced criticism because its responses rely on training data from published sources. To address writers’ and actors’ concerns about data transparency and AI usage, the AMPTP published a proposal containing guidelines for AI use.

These guidelines include stipulations that generative AI-produced content will not be considered “literary material” and will not enjoy intellectual or literary protection, while writers will still receive full rights and credits regardless of AI involvement.

Source: WSJ