That tech is growing like crazy from all the data scraping. It's why Sarah Silverman is suing OpenAI and Meta. If you ask ChatGPT or Copy.ai to write a screenplay today, it's gonna be ASS. But AMPTP knows it won't always be this way or they'd just agree not to use those trash ass scripts going forward. They know the tech will get better since it's really only in its infancy stage. That's why they wouldn't even consider having the convo with the WGA. AMPTP wouldn't need AI to come up with new ideas. In fact, if you look at the mandate right now, the industry is pressing forward with tons of existing IP, reimagining characters and worlds (Velma, Wednesday, etc) and hella sequels from popular movies back in the day (Avatar after 14 years, Gladiator after 24 years). If the trend continues you wouldn't need AI to come up with anything fresh, just build out from existing IP.
I've talked to three people in the industry recently (a producer on the scripted side who just had an Oscar-nominated movie in 2020, an Emmy award-winning showrunner on the unscripted side, and a talent manager for a major LA/UK based company) and they all said the production companies know they're gonna have to pony up. It's just a matter of how much. But they're hell-bent on not buckling with the AI thing because they know it could make them and save them major money in decades to come. WGA & SAG are trying to kill this shit in the crib, as they should.
