What do Hollywood writers really think of generative AI? In interviews with screenwriters and filmmakers, Josh Rottenberg reveals a sharp divide—some view AI as a gimmick, others hail it as a revolutionary force. To one, ChatGPT could even be the next Spielberg. As the industry barrels toward an AI-assisted future, it finds itself caught between the promise of innovation and the need to protect the human soul of storytelling.
Some studio executives may already be imagining a future with fewer writers, a field that’s historically one of the most developmentally expensive and unpredictable parts of making a movie. Since the spec script boom of the 1990s, when writers like Shane Black (“Lethal Weapon”) commanded multimillion-dollar paydays, screenwriting has carried a uniquely speculative price structure for work that’s often unproven. Robert Altman’s 1992 film “The Player” famously centered on a murder of a screenwriter, satirizing the industry’s long love-hate relationship with the written word.
But Gupta pushes back on that vision. He says AI is far from being able to write a good movie on its own — at least not yet. “You could watch it,” he says. “But you’re not going to like watching it.” What excites him more is the potential for co-creation, humans still driving the process with machines supporting rather than replacing them.
More picks on AI
What Is Claude? Anthropic Doesn’t Know, Either
“Researchers at the company are trying to understand their A.I. system’s mind—examining its neurons, running it through psychology experiments, and putting it on the therapy couch.”
Wildlife Attacks and Strange Animal Behavior—Fake Images Spark Conservation Concerns
“AI-generated images pose a direct threat to conservation efforts by distorting public perceptions of wildlife.”
America Isn’t Ready for What AI Will Do to Jobs
“Does anyone have a plan for what happens next?”
Deepfaking Orson Welles’s Mangled Masterpiece
“Will an A.I. restoration of ‘The Magnificent Ambersons’ right a historic wrong or desecrate a classic?”
A Calif. Teen Trusted ChatGPT For Drug Advice. He Died From an Overdose.
“Amid a wave of hype for OpenAI’s chatbot, the newly reported death shows stark risks.”
Why Does A.I. Write Like … That?
“If only they were robotic! Instead, chatbots have developed a distinctive—and grating—voice.”
