TV execs say AI will do it all soon

“This is going to change the world,” said Todd Lieberman, a film and television producer whose credits include Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. “Will there be an AI-written screenplay in a year? Yes.”

The executives spoke on a panel discussion at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills on Wednesday. the authors guild of America, the represents around 11,500 screenwriters national, strike Tuesday, strive for higher pay, better working conditions – and containment of AI.

The technology isn’t just used in scripts, said Rob Wade, who runs Fox’s entertainment business. It will extend to “editing everything,” he said. “AI will be able to do absolutely all of these things.”

The authors are Ask studios not to use artificial intelligence to write or rewrite their scripts. They also request that their work not be used as source material for AI software or to train writing bots. The union said the studios rejected their proposals, offering only annual meetings to discuss the technology.

“It’s an accelerator,” said Tom Ryan, who runs Paramount’s streaming business. It will not only be helpful in the creative process, but also for other departments like engineering and technology, he said. But he doesn’t think it will replace jobs.

“It opens up all sorts of exciting opportunities for our team to do things faster and better,” said Ryan.

Falon Fatemi, chief executive officer of Fireside, an organization that connects fans to video programs, said that while AI software will “definitely take away some jobs,” it will boost creativity by making it easier for writers to get their jobs done .

“Now anyone can have an idea or a premise about a piece they want to write and they can have a starting point,” she said.

Fox’s Wade also said that there will always be a human “co-pilot” in the writing process.

“You always need a leader who gives a bad grade,” he joked.