Many Americans take a dim view of movies and TV shows created by artificial intelligence

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Artificial intelligence seems to be everywhere right now, but not everyone is in favor of it. In fact, a majority of Americans have expressed some reluctance about the use of this technology in creating entertainment content like movies and TV shows. However, some professionals see no harm in doing so.

Artificial intelligence seems to be everywhere right now, but not everyone is in favor of it. In fact, a majority of Americans have expressed some reluctance about the use of this technology in creating entertainment content like movies and TV shows. However, some professionals see no harm in doing so.

Only 27% of US adults believe that movies written with artificial intelligence will have a positive impact on the entertainment industry, according to the results of a survey by Morning Consult*. The poll looked at how Americans perceive the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of TV shows and movies. And, according to respondents' answers, the technology's potential impact on the industry is viewed in a relatively negative light. In fact, two out of five Americans (42%) said AI-generated movies and TV shows would have a negative impact on the industry.

And yet, this perception is not shared by all. Especially by professionals like Marc Guggenheim, writer, producer and co-creator of shows including "Arrow" and "Legends of Tomorrow". "I don’t really consider AI to be a threat to writer primacy in the present day," he told Morning Consult. "I’m still forcing myself to wrap my brain around and get comfortable with the idea that AI could potentially be a tool." He continues: "One thing we’ve seen is that it actually grows much faster and gets much better and quicker than any of us have been able to anticipate. It’s all well and good to use it as a tool today, but we need to be constantly vigilant about how it’s going to affect writing tomorrow."

The Writers Guild of America has also taken a stance on the use of artificial intelligence tools in the writing process. Instead of opposing it, the organization has allowed the use of ChatGPT as an aid to screenwriting, as long as writers' credits and residuals are unaffected.

According to Kaaveh Shoamanesh, CEO of the Plaiced platform, writers and directors have expressed concerns about losing their jobs. "They can’t get off the fact that they would be threatened to use AI as an assistant. Because they think eventually, it will gain enough traction to replace them and are weary that it would reduce their salary or make them disposable." This phenomenon has been dubbed "AI-nxiety."

In addition to this fear, the use of artificial intelligence tools also raises concerns about plagiarism, since ChatGPT may rely on already existing elements. For voice actors, there is also concern that their voices will be reproduced without them being paid for their use.

Generational differences

Perceptions also differ between generations. If, on average, Americans are not overly positive about the use of AI in the entertainment industry, younger people tend to be a little more so than their elders. Millennials lead the way, with 41% believing that AI-generated movies could have a positive impact on the industry, 33% for Generation Z and up to 36% for avid moviegoers. On the other hand, Gen Z remains divided, as 44% -- 2% above average -- perceive this idea as potentially negative for the industry. But it is Baby Boomers who are the most skeptical, with 46% taking a dim view of AI in the entertainment industry. And it's the same story for AI-generated series, with 45% of negative opinion among Gen Z and 47% among Baby Boomers, compared to just 36% for Millennials.

If the process of creating content using artificial intelligence divides Americans, so does the consumption of this content. On average, only 38% say they are interested in watching movies or series created entirely by AI, compared to 45% who are opposed to this idea. Again, Millennials are the most receptive, with 52% saying they are interested in this kind of content, while Baby Boomers are the most averse, at 53%. For director Jim Morrison IV, it's the curiosity of this novelty that appeals to younger people. "Today’s generation have filters on Instagram from a young age, and that’s like a proxy of AI, so I think the gateway is already there. It’s more of a curiosity, but the appreciation for what AI has to offer is stronger among the younger crowd," he told Morning Consult.

*Morning Consult's survey was conducted April 5-8, 2023, among 2,201 US adults.

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