Hollywood Studios Can Train AI Models Using Writers’ Work Under Tentative Agreement

Hollywood studios are poised to retain the right to train artificial intelligence models using the work of writers, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal that cites sources familiar with the situation.

Writers are set to gain a significant victory as well, with assurances that they will receive proper credit and compensation for their script contributions, even if studios utilize AI tools in the process. Entertainment executives were reluctant to give up the ability to develop their own AI programs based on existing TV and movie scripts, as they believe that AI technology platforms are already using such materials for training their models.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) represents approximately 11,500 film and television writers and recently reached a preliminary three-year agreement with major studios. This agreement still requires approval from both the union’s leadership and its members.

The deal is anticipated to bring an end to one of the two strikes that have significantly disrupted film and television production, leading to substantial financial losses for the California economy.

Meanwhile, the actors and performers’ union remains on strike, advocating for similar concerns as the writers, including increased pay and safeguards against AI utilization. Additionally, video game voice actors and motion capture performers have voted to authorize a strike if negotiations for a new labor contract do not succeed, signaling the potential for further disruptions in Hollywood.