Scouting Hollywood: May 9-15

A roundup of news, gossip and history of the entertainment business brought to you from Hollywood, California

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and other unions representing film and TV writers and journalists sent a letter to Congress recently urging protections for their industries in any legislation regarding artificial intelligence.

Addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the letter was co-signed by the NewsGuild-CWA, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), and National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET-CWA). “So far this year, our members have witnessed the impact of unregulated AI on their jobs,” the letter stated. “Major news media companies, including Gannett and G/O Media sites, deployed AI articles with fake bylines to replace the work of hardworking local and digital journalists and writers. Film and television writers won critical protections in their collective bargaining agreement, but their work continues to be used by AI developers without their consent.”

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The unions urged Congress to pass meaningful legislation that protects writers and other creative professionals working in film, television, news, podcasts and online media from the existential threat of AI. A main sticking point in last year’s WGA strike was the impact of AI.