Summary
Netflix has recently advertised an open AI position that comes with the enticing possibility of earning $900,000. Coinciding with this job posting, actors and writers are currently participating in strikes to demand improved wages and the implementation of AI regulations within their industry.The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have come together to collectively voice their concerns regarding the use of AI in the realm of film.
The job listing and the AMPTP's responses to the strikes have sparked concerns about the prioritization of AI over human actors and writers in the studios.
In the midst of actors and writers demanding better pay and AI regulations, Netflix has advertised a job opening related to artificial intelligence, offering a potential salary of $900,000. This occurs simultaneously with the joint strike organized by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA), marking the first time since the 1960s that they have taken such collective action. Withholding their labor, actors and writers have effectively halted the majority of Hollywood operations. The strikes will persist until the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) negotiates new contracts with the unions and addresses their concerns.
As reported by The Intercept, Netflix recently announced a job opening for an AI position with an impressive salary range of up to $900,000. The company is seeking a skilled Machine Learning/AI Product Manager to enhance the effectiveness of their machine-learning platform (MLP). The responsibilities will encompass setting objectives and goals for the MLP, as well as providing guidance to others on its usage. Interestingly, the typical salary for this role at Netflix is stated to range from $300,000 to $900,000. This job listing emerges while the WGA and SAG-AFTRA express significant concerns about the incorporation of AI in the film industry.
Netflix's Job Listing Adds To SAG-AFTRA & WGA AI Fears
AI has been a major point of focus during the ongoing strikes by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. The WGA initiated their strike in May, aiming for improved job security, fair compensation, residuals, and safeguards against the intrusion of AI. Their proposed regulations sought to prevent AI from replacing writers or utilizing their work for training purposes. Unfortunately, the AMPTP outright rejected the proposal, merely offering discussions on technological advancements as an alternative.
SAG-AFTRA is concerned about AI using actors' likenesses without compensation or permission due to advances in technology that now allow for an actor's likeness to be fully recreated through CGI and deepfake. In response, the AMPTP proposed a solution comparable to the "Joan is Awful" episode from Black Mirror, which involves scanning and retaining an actor's likeness in exchange for one day of pay, allowing studios to use it in any future projects without compensation or consent.
These responses from the AMPTP have sparked fears that studios aim to replace or undermine Hollywood creatives by utilizing AI and potentially underpaying them. Netflix's recent job posting further fuels these concerns. Despite the perception of Hollywood as a wealthy industry, the average and entry-level salaries for actors and writers are relatively low, ranging from approximately $40,000 to $60,000. Studios argue that demands for better compensation are unrealistic, yet they are willing to pay nearly a million dollars annually to an AI worker. The job posting by Netflix appears to prioritize AI over human actors and writers.
Source: The Intercept
