Studios hire more AI experts while actors and writers strike.
Studios Turn to Artificial Intelligence Specialists Amid Hollywood Strike
As actors and writers continue their strike, studios are seeking solace in the uncertainty of the future of TV and movies by advertising jobs for Artificial Intelligence (AI) specialists. The joint strike by The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) was prompted by the studios’ inadequate response to artists’ concerns about the threat AI poses to their careers, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Writers fear that the use of AI tools like ChatGPT to write or rewrite scripts will result in job losses for producers, writers, and others in the industry. In the midst of this fear, companies like Disney and Netflix have announced their plans to hire AI specialists. Disney, for instance, has several open positions, including roles within its “Imagineering” team that focuses on AI, as reported by THR.
A Disney job listing wanted applicants who could “push the limits of what AI tools can create and understand the difference between the voice of data and the voice of a designer, writer or artist” https://t.co/g1t25GJ3GQ
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 27, 2023
One of the positions at Disney is for an Imagineer who possesses the ambition to push the boundaries of what AI tools can achieve and can distinguish between the voice of data and the voice of a designer, writer, or artist. The base salary for this role can reach up to $180,000 per year, with additional bonuses or compensation, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Another open position at Disney is within its Streaming Advanced Research division, responsible for developing AI-enabled solutions for Disney+, Star+, and ESPN+. The job description also mentions using AI for advanced personalization efforts involving digital avatars.
Netflix is reportedly willing to offer a salary of $900,000 per year for an AI product manager, while Sony is seeking an AI “Ethics” engineer with a salary of $160,000.
“We believe in researching and developing AI techniques that empower the imagination and creativity of artists, makers, and creators around the world,” states the Sony job listing. “Our aim is to advance AI so that it augments — and works in harmony with — humans to benefit society.”
During the strike, Bryan Cranston, known for his role in “Breaking Bad,” delivered a passionate speech declaring that actors’ jobs will not be replaced by robots.
Bryan Cranston delivers a rousing speech addressed to Bob Iger at a SAG-AFTRA strike rally in Times Square: ”We will not allow you to take our dignity. We are union through and through all the way to the end.” https://t.co/M0Cs5ahWZo pic.twitter.com/IILje2O5Fi
— Variety (@Variety) July 25, 2023
“We’ve got a message for Mr. Iger [Disney CEO Bob Iger]: I know, sir, that you look at things through a different lens,” Cranston expressed. “We don’t expect you to understand who we are. But we ask you to hear us, and beyond that, to listen to us when we tell you we will not have our jobs taken away and given to robots.”
Related: Actors Go On Strike. Here’s What That Means For Your Shows And Movies
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
