WGA Strikes Deal with Hollywood Studios on AI Use

Leaders of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have authorized a tentative agreement with Hollywood entertainment studios that includes the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the industry.

After nearly five months, the strike, which began on May 2, 2023, was pronounced over at 12:01 a.m. PT on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, as reported by Deadline.

In addition to higher wages and more equitable contracts, one of the WGA’s main points of contention concerned AI practices and implementation.

In August, Hollywood studios sent a proposal for AI utilization to the striking writers and actors, but it was insufficient for either guild.

“AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material.”

According to Deadline, the provisions of the official tentative agreement with the WGA stipulate that AI-generated content cannot be used to “undermine” a writer’s credit.

“A writer can choose to use AI when performing writing services if the company consents and provided that the writer follows applicable company policies, but the company can’t require the writer to use AI software (e.g. ChatGPT) when performing writing services.”

The agreement also states: Ellen Stutzman, one of the WGA’s directors, stated that studios “refused to negotiate” artificial intelligence terms before the strike.

Additionally, when AI-generated content is given to writers or incorporated into a project, companies must be transparent. The WGA states that it “reserves the right to assert that exploitation of writers’ material for AI training is prohibited by MBA or other law.”

The most recent agreements affect the WGA, one of the two entertainment unions that were on strike. The other industrial union is SAG-AFTRA, which represents actors and other “media professionals.”

This union joined the WGA on July 14, 2023, and is still on strike as of the present moment. AI is one of the primary elements that SAG-AFTRA is also combating.

The studios’ AI proposal proposed the scanning of background actors, for which they would receive only one day’s pay. They would then grant companies complete proprietorship of the scan, their image, and their likeness.