The Hollywood writers' AI fight is everyone’s fight

The ongoing Writers Guild of America strike could be more important even than the struggles for union recognition at Ford and GM’s factories a century ago

Writers Guild of America members picket outside CBS Television City in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. Hollywood screenwriters are confronting a future that all knowledge workers will soon face. File photo: AP/Damian Dovarganes

Artificial intelligence is big business’s new flavour of the month. Companies are rushing to showcase how they will be using new generative AI models, and the media is full of stories about the technology’s transformative potential. 

There is no denying that it could significantly increase productivity. But who stands to benefit? The ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike may offer an answer.