From what I see from reading the summary MOU, they got a total ban on AI. Where do you see that as kicking the can down the road?
And I do think you’re downplaying how big a win this is. You always aim for bigger increases than you expect to get on stuff like basic pay rates. They got the minirooms, AI, and got the studios to share streaming numbers. Those are the three key points where the AMPTP was digging in their heels (this was never about the money for the studios, the money was a pittance; they only fought them down on the raises tobe able to say they got a “compromise”).
As far as I can see, on the biggest fights this was a total victory.
Oh, they got their writing rooms, they broke the Chinese wall of streaming numbers.
The small raises hurt the rank and file, and the streaming residuals are barely noticeable for the rank and file.
The wga management made out like bandits, tons of money for the health care and pension funds, some cash for training, and they know the numbers now.
I don’t think the average member will see much here.
For ai it’s not a ban, it’s that writers cannot be compelled to work on ai drafts, which is good, but basically it’s an admission that ai sucks now, 5 years down when things have changed there’s room for maneuver.
But the studios did admit ai isn’t that big of a threat today, which is a useful negotiating point.
This is what the WGA summary says about the AI provisions:
We have established regulations for the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) on MBA-covered projects in the following ways:
AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA, meaning that AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights.
A writer can choose to use AI when performing writing services, if the company consents and provided that the writer follows applicable company policies, but the company can’t require the writer to use AI software (e.g., ChatGPT) when performing writing services.
The Company must disclose to the writer if any materials given to the writer have been generated by AI or incorporate AI-generated material.
The WGA reserves the right to assert that exploitation of writers’ material to train AI is prohibited by MBA or other law.
The summary is meaningless, the language is critical, attend:
The Companies agree that because neither traditional AI nor GAI is a person,
neither is a ‘writer’ or ‘professional writer’ as defined in Articles 1.B.1.a.,
1.B.1.b., 1.C.1.a. and 1.C.1.b. of this MBA, and, therefore, written material
produced by traditional AI or GAI shall not be considered literary material under
this or any prior MBA.
It means gai material is not covered by this agreement unless a writer is asked to rewrite or adapt it as specified in later clauses.
Gai does not get writing credit, but there is no bar from having a gai written script other than the obvious fact that it would be effectively unwatchable without human editing.
Given that the summary is written by the people who wrote the agreement, presumably under the advise of their lawyers, I think I’m going to trust it over someone’s assessment of what they happen to think a single out of context passage means (and to be clear, the entirety of this MOU - if you’re trying to do an actual close legal reading of it - is out of context because this exists in relationship with the existing contracts that it is updating).
Not trying to be an asshole here, but unless you’ve got access to a LOT more information about this than you’re letting on, I think you’re grossly overestimating your ability to tease out meaningful details from the text. “The people who wrote this are wrong about what it says and I’m right” is a lot to ask people to believe in a vacuum.
From what I see from reading the summary MOU, they got a total ban on AI. Where do you see that as kicking the can down the road?
And I do think you’re downplaying how big a win this is. You always aim for bigger increases than you expect to get on stuff like basic pay rates. They got the minirooms, AI, and got the studios to share streaming numbers. Those are the three key points where the AMPTP was digging in their heels (this was never about the money for the studios, the money was a pittance; they only fought them down on the raises tobe able to say they got a “compromise”).
As far as I can see, on the biggest fights this was a total victory.
Oh, they got their writing rooms, they broke the Chinese wall of streaming numbers.
The small raises hurt the rank and file, and the streaming residuals are barely noticeable for the rank and file.
The wga management made out like bandits, tons of money for the health care and pension funds, some cash for training, and they know the numbers now.
I don’t think the average member will see much here.
For ai it’s not a ban, it’s that writers cannot be compelled to work on ai drafts, which is good, but basically it’s an admission that ai sucks now, 5 years down when things have changed there’s room for maneuver.
But the studios did admit ai isn’t that big of a threat today, which is a useful negotiating point.
This is what the WGA summary says about the AI provisions:
Where do you disagree with their assessment?
The summary is meaningless, the language is critical, attend:
It means gai material is not covered by this agreement unless a writer is asked to rewrite or adapt it as specified in later clauses.
Gai does not get writing credit, but there is no bar from having a gai written script other than the obvious fact that it would be effectively unwatchable without human editing.
Given that the summary is written by the people who wrote the agreement, presumably under the advise of their lawyers, I think I’m going to trust it over someone’s assessment of what they happen to think a single out of context passage means (and to be clear, the entirety of this MOU - if you’re trying to do an actual close legal reading of it - is out of context because this exists in relationship with the existing contracts that it is updating).
Not trying to be an asshole here, but unless you’ve got access to a LOT more information about this than you’re letting on, I think you’re grossly overestimating your ability to tease out meaningful details from the text. “The people who wrote this are wrong about what it says and I’m right” is a lot to ask people to believe in a vacuum.