According to a prominent director, it is possible that artificial intelligence will be able to create television soap operas in the next three to five years. James Hawes, the vice-chairman of Directors UK and director of the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses starring Gary Oldman, shared with the Culture, Media and Sport committee that digitally generated scripts will soon become prevalent, especially for soap operas.

Hawes mentioned that Directors UK recently organized a discussion about the cancellation of the BBC show “Doctors”. During the forum, one of the participants raised the topic of AI, prompting Hawes to research the possibility of creating a show like Doctors solely using generative AI technology.

I conducted a survey with multiple VFX professionals and consulted with members of the legal department who provided guidance to SAG and the Writers Guild during the summer months. The estimated timeline is likely within three to five years.

According to Hawes, artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to generate scripts and footage, potentially eliminating the need for writers and actors. In support of this, he mentioned Sora, a newly released OpenAI tool that can instantly create videos.

The specialist I spoke with mentioned that they predicted this would occur within 18 months to two years, but it has unexpectedly arrived. While it may not be flawless in terms of live-action, it is incredibly close. There is a video featuring a dragon festival, which is difficult to determine if it is genuine or not.

“That leads me to believe that the revisions will occur drastically and in the near future.”

There are lingering uncertainties, particularly regarding scriptwriting, regarding the potential success of AI-generated content without human involvement. Screenwriter Charlie Brooker has shared his attempt to use ChatGPT to write a script for the sixth season of Black Mirror, but ultimately failed due to the result being “plausible at first glance, but ultimately lacking”.

According to Brooker, the technology’s ability to write scripts is simply a result of compiling and combining synopses from various Black Mirror episodes. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that there is no true originality in the writing. It is comparable to [1970s impressionist] Mike Yarwood’s style, which often relied on current events for material.

Nevertheless, the potential impact of AI on MPs serving on select committees may be somewhat heightened. “I must disclose to the committee that prior to my arrival, I consulted Chat GPT for potential questions you may pose,” stated Hawes during his testimony. “And so far, it has been quite accurate.”

Source: theguardian.com