Hollywood Strike: Is AI Really A Threat To Actors?

Better pay and new deals with streaming platforms: The actors’ strike that brought Hollywood to a standstill a few days back is mainly over money. But there is something else that worries film actors – the growing use of artificial intelligence. Is this fear justified?

It makes sense, at any rate, says Peter van der Putten, assistant professor at the SAILS (Social Artificial Intelligence and Life Sciences) interdisciplinary research programme. “Artificial Intelligence (AI) scares us. We are afraid of losing control or becoming useless. But it also fascinates us. Otherwise it would have disappeared long ago. AI is about questions such as: What intelligence Where does intelligence come from? How can we learn? But also broader things: What makes us human?”

replaced by ai

The resistance from Hollywood actors is partly about the question of whether they will be replaced by AI. Big streaming platforms are said to be planning to pay actors, especially extras, a one-time payment for their image or voice. With the help of AI, digital scans can be used for various TV and film productions forever.

According to Van der Putten the problem is not so much about the use of AI, but rather who has the rights to use the actors’ images. “AI has become an essential part of the movie world. They’ve been using it for years to create extras in big productions. Take The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, with their Orcs or the vast armies of the undead.” They’re not actually thousands of actors in costumes. They’re computer graphics made realistic with AI.” AI is also used to generate scripts for voice actors in animation films or games.

Script, Casting and Production

The production process of movies and series would not be possible without AI and has been around for a long time. For example, scripts are written or improved with AI, and the technology can be used in casting and to increase the efficiency of filming. “The puzzle of film locations: When are we going to shoot which scene? What do we need for that? Which actors will need to be available and when? AI helps optimize that whole process.”

Van der Putten doesn’t think AI will be taking over actors entirely anytime soon, and certainly not lead and supporting roles either. “The question is whether this is something you absolutely need. The film industry benefits when the audience feels a connection to the main character and that’s much easier with a real person. And some scenes can’t be created with AI.” Can. An actor who has to act without a script for two minutes; you really have to put your heart and soul into it. As an actor you come with a story behind it or maybe you want to play the part of your life. Take the help of experience, and that’s something AI can’t do.”

But AI’s impact on the film industry will grow, and the actors’ strike will do little to change that. “Obviously actors have to be paid when they lend their voice or image to a production. Random and unsolicited: the work turns up and there’s little we can do about it. When When photography entered the 19th century, painters were afraid that it would mean the end of art. But they adapted. Movements like Impressionism and Expressionism gradually emerged from the boring, realistic Academy work,” says Van der Putten.

“I hope the same can be true for AI, that the technology can be seen as a welcome contribution even within the art world. Take the play H/AI, where the actors got their lines from ChatGPT . This resulted in absurd situations now and then, and that made the play interesting. AI has a lot of glitches and that’s what makes it so fascinating: it really makes us think about who we are.”