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AI Revenue expert Jeff Pedowitz sat down with Express.co.uk to explore claims that have emerged from Hollywood since the start of the strike, some of which seem completely dystopian – with many fans comparing the situation to the Black Mirror series.
While Jeff admits artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry is far more evolved than viewers may think, estimating that the first completely AI-generated film could be on screen within a year, he is encouraging people from all sides of the strike to first properly educate themselves on AI before trying to draft any policies or proposals that could bring the strike to a close.
He advised actors and writers: “If they go out and get trained in AI and start using it, it will give them a more detailed perspective on what they can bring to the table and how to construct a dialogue.
“The studios should be doing the same thing.”
Jeff cautioned both sides of the strike that if no one starts “coming to the table with actionable ideas” they could be at risk of losing viewers entirely.
He explained: “People in life go to entertainment for an escape. When you go to escape and you can’t because the entertainment industry is having its own issues, at some point we as consumers are going to turn off and tune out and find other things to do.
“That I think is the biggest danger to Hollywood. We have a choice as consumers and we can walk away. That apathy sets in and consumers will make their choices.”
The expert jokingly admits he’s not on the front lines of the strike, saying SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher “hasn’t called me up” but explained that, from his perspective, the longevity of the strike appears to be seeded in lacking communication.
He explained that it seems studios are “not willing to engage” while the creatives on the picket lines “fearing things they don’t understand”, adding that having a better grasp on the topics they are debating could quickly speed up the negotiation process.
Looking forward, Jeff doesn’t see a future in which AI is completely prohibited from the entertainment industry but says “Hollywood needs to evolve” to embrace the technology like it did decades ago with the invention of CGI.
He explained the remarkable similarities in how the two completely different technologies both have the potential to better the industry: “Everyone acknowledges that CGI plays an important role, you know when it’s being used but it also adds to the entertainment.
“Will every single production use AI – no, just like there are productions now that don’t use CGI.
“But will this technology be available, will there be skilled people behind, will there be businesses built around it just like CGI studios – absolutely.”
