‘Overhyped to Death’: Barry Diller Slams Hollywood Claims About AI Being ‘Existential Threat’

Fei Ruby, Tech Times 17 July 2023, 02:07 pm

The future of the entertainment business is uncertain in light of the Hollywood writers' and actors' strike.

Media tycoon and billionaire Barry Diller foresees a possible collapse if problems are not handled quickly. Diller downplays the threat posed by AI, but many people are still unsure of the industry's future.

(Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Yahoo) NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 25: IAC & Expedia, Inc. Chairman & Senior Executive Barry Diller speaks onstage at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit on October 25, 2017 in New York City.

SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strikes

For the first time in more than 60 years, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is on strike alongside more than 65,000 actors and 11,000 TV and screenplay writers from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

They contend that AI poses a serious danger to their careers and raise worries about lower income in the age of streaming.

Former CEO of Paramount Pictures Barry Diller downplayed worries about artificial intelligence. during her appearance on Face the Nation. He promised audiences that technology will not supplant human skill in the movie industry, but some people still have their doubts.

A.I. was mentioned by Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director of SAG-AFTRA. as an "existential threat" to show business. Actors and authors worry about receiving less money when streaming companies modify their business structures.

The whole business would sustain irreparable harm if nothing is done, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said.

Proposing Solutions

A.I. was suggested by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Crabtree-Ireland rejected the proposal, stating it violated the performers' rights and image ownership, as a way to safeguard actors' digital likenesses.

The ownership and fair pay dispute heated up, bringing to light the strikers' enduring worries. Scott Rowe, a spokesman for AMPTP, justified their idea by emphasizing that it permitted employing a background actor's digital duplicate for a particular project.

Negotiations were strained by divergent interpretations, which called for a conclusion.

Effects of the Strike

Barry Diller spoke in favor of a September 1 deadline for a settlement, pointing out the possible repercussions of a protracted strike. He cautioned that failure to strike a deal may result in the sector collapsing, which would harm the financial stability of producing businesses and lower income.

Diller stressed the value of copyright protection in order to stop additional harm from generative AI in the publishing sector. Fundamental concerns concerning intellectual property and artistic liberty are brought up by the continual conflict between creators and technology.

End Result for the Entertainment Industry

The continuous labor dispute between artificial intelligence (AI) forces and human talent has created uncertainty for the sector.

This crucial period in entertainment history serves as a reminder of the need for artistic integrity, fair recompense, and respect for intellectual property rights.

The conclusion of this conflict will have an effect on the entertainment sector, impacting content consumption and technical and creative advances in people. Hollywood's future is up in the air, waiting for a decision that will decide its fate.