Charlie Brooker, the creator of the dystopian science fiction series "Black Mirror," recently opened up about his experience with popular AI-powered software, his skepticism towards its capabilities, and how it influenced his approach to storytelling.
In an interview with Empire, Brooker shared his thoughts on ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence model developed by OpenAI, and discussed how his encounter with the technology guided him in crafting an upcoming episode of the show.
He also provided a glimpse into the highly anticipated new episode, 'Beyond The Sea,' featuring Aaron Paul, Kate Mara, and Josh Hartnett.
Experimenting with ChatGPT
Brooker admitted that he had experimented with ChatGPT and initially asked it to generate a Black Mirror episode. However, he expressed disappointment with the results, stating that the AI model merely combined synopses of previous episodes without displaying any originality or depth.
According to Brooker, this lack of genuine creativity reaffirmed the importance of human ingenuity in storytelling.
While AI can be a powerful tool, it still requires human guidance and expertise to produce thought-provoking narratives.
Writing with ChatGPT
According to a Gizmodo report covering the WGA strike, ChatGPT is based on statistical patterns and lacks intent, a clear understanding of meaning, and the ability to improve its output. These constraints limit its true writing ability.
In the same report, an experiment with ChatGPT produced a script highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.
While the AI-generated text might be utilized to identify pitfalls in writing, it fell short in critical areas such as style, emotional depth, coherent storytelling, and captivating dialogue or scenes-definitely not Black Mirror material.
ChatGPT, a large language model trained on an extensive database of internet text, raises concerns about potential copyright infringements due to the lack of explicit authorization to include specific training data.
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A Sobering Lesson
Despite ChatGPT's limitations, Brooker found his interaction with the AI software to be enlightening. It reminded him of the recurring theme in Black Mirror: that technology itself is not inherently evil, but rather the misuse of it by humans can lead to disastrous consequences.
Brooker noted that his experience with ChatGPT served as a cautionary tale, teaching him what pitfalls to avoid in future episodes.
He humorously remarked that he had previously relied on the clichéd twist of characters, realizing they were inside a computer, prompting him to challenge his preconceived notions and embrace fresh ideas.
Black Mirror Is Back
Building upon the discussion of Black Mirror's future, Brooker teased fans about the upcoming episode, 'Beyond The Sea.'
Set in an alternate version of 1969, the story takes viewers on an impossible mission that spans the past, present, and future.
Brooker emphasized that the decision to transport the narrative to the late '60s was not driven by nostalgia but rather a desire to explore how the characters' behavior and mindset would be influenced by the time period.
With an ensemble cast featuring Aaron Paul, Kate Mara, and Josh Hartnett, 'Beyond The Sea' promises to deliver the show's signature blend of dystopian intrigue and thought-provoking social commentary.
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