In the latest season of the popular sci-fi series “Black Mirror” on Netflix, a thought-provoking episode explores the story of an office manager who discovers that a streaming service is using an avatar of Salma Hayek to replay her life. Hayek’s digital image has been sold to Hollywood for the creation of programming using artificial intelligence (AI).
Annie Murphy, known for her role in “Schitt’s Creek” and who portrays the office manager in the episode, emphasized that the storyline raises real-world concerns among actors and writers. In fact, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) recently went on strike, partially driven by fears that studios might rely on generative AI instead of human writers to develop scripts.
Murphy expressed her hopes that the episode sheds light on the issues that actors and writers are fighting for and why they are doing so. It goes beyond mere complaints from writers; it’s about questioning whether humans can be replaced by computers, which is an unsettling prospect.
The concerns among actors grew when realistic “deep fake” videos started circulating online, featuring celebrities like Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, and Salma Hayek. Members of the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, are now seeking safeguards regarding the use of their images in negotiations with Hollywood studios.
While Murphy acknowledges the lighthearted and entertaining nature of the “Black Mirror” episode, she also hopes that it sparks meaningful discussions about the potential negative consequences of AI if it goes too far. During filming, she had conversations with Hayek about the issue, recognizing that Hayek’s image has been misused in various disrespectful ways.
The episode serves as a reminder that the intersection of technology and entertainment raises profound ethical questions that require careful consideration and discussion to protect the rights and well-being of actors and writers.