Bargaining for a New Contract
In a dazzling display of union solidarity and a resolve as tough as diamond-encrusted steel, the Animation Guild has donned its best negotiation hat and pulled up to the table with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to hammer out a glitzy new contract. Yes, it’s happening! Bright lights, cameras, and a lot of paperwork, my friends. This is no ordinary affair – this is Hollywood, after all. Before hitting the negotiation floor, though, members rallied like Spartans, highlighting issues we all know too well: layoffs, outsourcing, and the star of this galactic soap opera, artificial intelligence (AI).
The vibe was electric at the pre-negotiations rally, with banners waving and voices uniting to make it clear that this isn’t merely about signing on dotted lines. The conversation isn’t just between two entities; it’s a crucial discourse about the future of animation itself. And if you thought AI was just a buzzword cooked up by some futuristic sci-fi fan, think again. It’s front-and-center in these negotiations, twirling its mustache and plotting the transformation of the industry as we know it.
AI: The New Frontier
Enter the TAG AI Task Force, like a contingent of tech-savvy knights in shiny, algorithmic armor. Established on April 4, 2023, these valiant heroes, armed with mice and code scripts, are set to delve deep into the transformative power of AI and machine learning on animation. Their mission? To investigate, identify, research, and ponder the ethical ramifications – all while munching on popcorn and discussing how to protect the industry’s heart and soul: its talented human creators.
Wielding tasks like a wizard with a wand, the Task Force has some chivalrous objectives ahead. They’re surveying the landscape for member concerns, piecing together research on current AI techniques, and evaluating what ethical breadcrumbs we need to follow to avoid the ogres of technology-driven displacement. Recommendations will flow forth like a magical scroll to guide the Animation Guild in combatting the specter of AI-induced despair.
The Numbers Game
Numbers, they say, don’t lie – unless you’re playing poker with a highly sophisticated AI that stays cool under digital pressure. So, the Animation Guild teamed up with its merry band of organizations and commissioned a survey by CVL Economics to unravel the fabric of AI’s impact on entertainment jobs. The results are in, and cue the drumroll, please: 75% of those surveyed claimed that GenAI (Generative AI for the uninitiated) had been playing musical chairs with jobs, eliminating, reducing, or consolidating roles while also conjuring up new job titles faster than a magician’s rabbit trick.
Future projections predict that over 90% of business leaders believe GenAI is here to stay and will saunter its way into a more significant role in the entertainment industry in the coming three years. It’s like watching a new streaming service take off, but this one comes with a hefty side of existential self-reflection. By 2026, nearly 21.4% of jobs in film, television, and animation – that’s around 118,500 jobs for those counting – will feel GenAI’s icy grip. With California and New York likely to face the brunt, one wonders if the AI will don a communicative I ❤ NY shirt while doing it.
Tick-tock goes the clock, and the current Master’s Agreement is set to expire on August 16, 2024. As we watch this real-life drama unfold, the Animation Guild is determined to champion the cause against any potential AI takeover, hoping to keep our beloved artists from being replaced with generative gizmos and algorithmic doodads. Stay tuned, for the plot certainly thickens!
