Around 12,000 writers represented by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have gone on strike, disrupting production of TV shows and movies until a deal is reached with studios. While most of their demands focus on improved pay and working conditions, one new issue has emerged: setting boundaries on AI’s involvement in writers’ rooms.

AI is already impacting creative professions

The rapid adoption of AI-powered chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT has given screenwriters cause for concern. OpenAI’s own researchers predict that 80% of the US workforce, including writers and lawyers, could be affected by chatbot technology. 

AI’s impact has already manifested in China’s videogame industry, where generative AI art tools have significantly altered artists’ roles and reduced work by as much as 70%. Last month, an AI-generated photo won a prestigious photography competition, much to the surprise of judges who were unaware that the image was wholly generated by AI.

Even Hollywood’s elite, such as Joe Russo, the filmmaker and producer behind Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, foresee a future where AI “engineers storytelling” in movies, potentially repl