ALT This week, Hearst became the latest WGAE shop to strike a content deal with OpenAI. The threat OpenAI and other artificial intelligence tools pose to journalism and the public is inconceivable, especially given how these deals lack transparency about how Guild’s members work will be used to train AI models, generate plagiarized material or protect the intellectual property created by Guild members. It is abhorrent and irresponsible that media companies would trade in their credibility for quick cash at the same time numerous news organizations and writers are in litigation with OpenAi over these very issues. In addition, these deals further contribute to AI’s dangerous environmental impact. We cannot ignore the severe consequences AI poses to furthering climate change.

ALT The Writers Guild of America East maintains that generative artificial intelligence is theft and is a mandatory subject of bargaining. We will not stop fighting to protect our members' work and livelihood from this existential threat.