I have spent a lot of my time reading books and researching things like ethics in software development, biased algorithms, data privacy, etc.
With the rise of the #WritersStrike and with people as a whole criticizing "generative AI" for its plagiarism, with people being concerned about their FANFICS being scraped to use for AI, I am just SO happy that average, non-programmer people are talking about how corporations use their data, and are MAD about it.
Here Justine Bateman’s thread lays out a case for why AI in entertainment must be addressed now, protections created or writers, actors and directors may not have a profession or career at all very soon. Writers Guild (WGA), SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) are fighting for our professions to exist at all.
Screenshot of tweets by @JustineBateman • 2h Your digital image can be triple and quadruple booked, so that bodes well for a 10 percenter. 4/ 2. Films customized for a viewer, based on their viewing history, which has been collected for many years. Actors will have the option to have their image "bought out" to be used in anything at all. 5/ 3. Films "ordered up" by the viewer. For example, " want a film about a panda and a unicorn who save the world in a rocket ship. And put Bill Murray in it." 6/ 4. Viewers getting digitally scanned themselves, and paying extra to have themselves inserted in these custom films. 7/
Screenshot of tweets by @JustineBateman 5. Licensing deals made with studios so that viewers can order up older films like STAR WARS and put their face on Luke Skywalker's body and their ex-wife's face on Darth Vader's body, etc. 8/ 6. Training an Al program on an older hits TV series, and creating an additional season. FAMILY TIES, for example, has 167 episodes. An Al program could easily be trained on this, and create an eighth season. We only shot seven. 9/ Al has to be addressed now or never. I believe this is the last time any labor action will be effective in our business. If we don't make strong rules now, they simply won't notice if we strike in three years, because at that point they won't need us. 10/end Addendum: Actors, you must have iron-clad protection against the Al use of your image and voice in the SAG MBA or your profession is finished. Demand it from @sagaftra and do not accept any AMPTP proposal that does not have it.
Just a friendly reminder that the studios and producers, represented by their union busting cabal the #AMPTP, wants to bust the #WritersGuild. In essence, they want the writers to have the same relationship as their deal with #VFX workers. And I can tell you, not having a trade union when dealing with billionaires is a losing and constantly diminishing proposition. #WritersStrike
Listen, and understand. That Iger is out there, it can't be bargained with [because it refuses to talk to writers or actors], it can't be reasoned with, it doesn't feel pity or remorse or fear, and it absolutely will not stop… EVER, until you are dead [and broke]!
Apple’s Tim Cook is not doing the right things. A shame to see them wasting so much opportunity to thrive even more then they have by not mistreating employees.
"'I think one fundamental thing, they [traditional studios/networks] should certainly get out of the room with their deepest fiercest and almost conclusive enemy, Netflix, and probably with Apple and Amazon, because Netflix is in one business and they are the rulers of the business,' Diller said."
Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia apparently took to Twitter (accounts such as this are no longer verified in Musk’s Twitter) to announce his office’s investigation of tree trimming on the sidewalk where workers, writers, and actors are picketing.
An anonymous Apple executive says out loud what we all suspected: they won’t deal because then they’d have to pay everyone what they’re worth for the work they do, and DGA’s proposed deal leaves them unprotected from replacement.
Don't forget to stream Good Omens (Seasons 1 and 2), give them good ratings, keep sharing it across social media and support the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes to help make Season 3 happen! The writers and actors deserve a livable income and reasonable work hours/conditions, as well as the opportunity to make the high-quality art they want to share with the world 💚
When I was a kid, I walked the picket line with my mom during teachers' strikes. Today, Cecil Castellucci and I took my mom down to Warners to walk the line. I brought home a sign (I asked if it was OK).
Fran Drescher announced the Screen Actors Guild joining the strike. Teamster was already supporting the strike back when it started. Let us fight for better working conditions for us all 💪
The one thing I keep thinking about regarding the WGA writers'strike is how actors are overrated and writers underrated. A great actor can make a terrible story tolerable. A poor actor can't destroy a great story. The human race evolved through and because of stories.
It's the main reason I don't like the Oscars, which centres actors rather than writers.
Netflix's "new" section is a throwback to retro content; CEOs got a compensation cut due to shareholder-imposed pay reductions. Iger and Disney face multiple lawsuits from various investor groups. 1/4
NBCUniversal accused of damaging LA city trees to deprive strikers of shade while picketing | Boing Boing (boingboing.net)
Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia apparently took to Twitter (accounts such as this are no longer verified in Musk’s Twitter) to announce his office’s investigation of tree trimming on the sidewalk where workers, writers, and actors are picketing.