Writers Create AI Steals
Before the internet, most people had their favourite comedy, sitcom, crime shows etc. But few cared about how a show is born. It starts with an idea. Writers flesh it out by writing lines to be spoken by ‘characters’ that have been determined. The show becomes popular. The television station makes money and pays writers. Before the internet, some shows were repeated, over the years. I believe they are called re-runs and they generated more money for television stations obviously. Writers also got something: residuals.
Writers Guild Strike
The strike was also about ‘streaming.’ Example. Your favourite T.V. has been canceled like many others, but it’s online now. That’s it. It is now in quick sand because the internet sucks every video, blog, joke and every recipe. It is the only place where theft is legal and is encouraged in likes, share, comments.
What shocks you at home is when the lines of your favourite character from that canceled T.V. show, come out from the mouth of a cartoon character or video game. Television writers wrote those lines, but they are not paid because it is now online, the quick sand.
I still don’t know much about artificial intelligence in general but I got a clearer understanding last week when I heard Tyler Perry’s work coming out of a short video from another language. Haaawu! Tyler Perry writes most of his films, including Why Did I Get Married. The stolen lines came from Tasha Smith’s character in that film. You know how some movie lines are indelible in your mind.
And here we are. Somebody is making money from Tyler Perry’s work, his writing. Now I understand a little bit, about what the Writers Guild of America was fighting for. Their work. Somebody is making a profit from what they wrote, but they are not getting paid.
Nonqaba waka Msimang
Blogger Without Borders
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