Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is set to host a crucial summit on artificial intelligence (AI), and it appears that Hollywood is taking a keen interest in the event. The summit, scheduled for September 13 in Washington D.C., aims to establish a framework for regulating AI, and it could have significant implications for the ongoing strikes that have effectively shut down the entertainment industry.
According to inside sources, both the Writers Guild President Meredith Stiehm and Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin will be attending the summit. This surprising move highlights the growing threat that AI poses to the entertainment industry. While Stiehm is embroiled in a battle with the studios, Rivkin’s presence underscores the broader concerns about the impact of AI on the industry as a whole.
In addition to Stiehm and Rivkin, a stellar lineup of tech moguls and industry leaders, including Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, will be participating in the event. Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Eric Schmidt are among the high-powered executives expected to attend as well.
The use of generative AI technology in entertainment has been a major point of contention for unions like SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America, which have been on strike for most of the summer. These unions have made it clear that they do not want AI to be used to write or rewrite literary material, serve as source material, or be employed to train AI under any union contract.
While the upcoming summit is a significant step toward addressing the concerns surrounding AI in the entertainment industry, it is important to note that forming legislation to regulate AI will be a complex and time-consuming process. The event itself is more like a “focus group” where participants will generate ideas for effective regulation. It is expected that multiple forums will be hosted in the future to further explore this topic.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is the purpose of the AI summit hosted by Chuck Schumer?
A: The AI summit aims to establish a framework for regulating artificial intelligence.
Q: Who will be attending the event?
A: Alongside tech moguls like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates, Hollywood representatives, including the Writers Guild President Meredith Stiehm and Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin, will be attending.
Q: What are the concerns of the entertainment industry regarding AI?
A: The industry is concerned about the use of generative AI technology in entertainment, which has become a major point of contention in ongoing strikes.
Q: How will the summit impact the entertainment industry?
A: The summit could potentially bring relief to the struggling industry by addressing the concerns surrounding AI and developing regulations to ensure fair practices.
Q: What is the expected outcome of the summit?
A: The summit will serve as a starting point for discussions on regulating AI, with the intention of generating ideas to form effective legislation in the future.