TV Writers Train AI on 139,000 Scripts: Chaos Ensues

data isn’t uploaded scripts but rather subtitles from those TV episodes and movies, sourced from a site called OpenSubtitles.org. If you’re wondering if your show or film’s script is floating around in this data set, you can search for it online.

Writer and programmer Alex Reisner, who built The Atlantic’s search tool to examine the data, confirmed that many AI systems have been trained on TV and film writers’ work. The data includes writing from every film nominated for Best Picture from 1950 to 2016, as well as episodes from popular TV shows like The Simpsons, Seinfeld, and The Wire.

Upon discovering their scripts in the database, writers like David Slack, known for projects like Teen Titans and Person of Interest, expressed deep outrage and frustration. They felt violated by the unauthorized use of their creative work.

As writers grapple with what this means for their intellectual property, they are seeking solutions and exploring how they can be compensated for their work being used to train AI systems. Studios that own the copyrights to these scripts are also facing questions about their responsibilities in this situation.

In this week’s Series Business, you’ll find out more about why writers are concerned about the use of their work to train AI, how studios have responded to the controversy, and what steps the Writers Guild of America is taking in response to this discovery. Legal experts and industry professionals weigh in on the complex intersection of AI technology and entertainment law, offering insights into the challenges and potential solutions moving forward.

The emerging technology promises to give Hollywood more control over how their scripts are used in AI training, but writers remain cautious, fearing a “slippery slope” where their art could be exploited for commercial gain without their consent.

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