Humanity’s Picket Line

The Writers Strike, AI, & A New Perspective

Growing up as an introverted kid with few friends and an abundance of alone time; I was raised on movies, comic books, and video games. From playful adventures with The Goonies to the brutal combat of Predator, I admired the nobility of Optimus Prime, the resilience of the X-men, and the absurdity of Mario Bros.

These tales and characters taught me lessons of honor, tragedy, heroism, wonder, and sacrifice, igniting my imagination and sharpening my vocabulary. I was transported to unimaginable worlds and dimensions. They showed me the possibilities of great power and how to wield it responsibly.

Today, the WGA writers strike hits close to home. The entertainment that shaped my childhood has since grown into a consolidated industry of colossal media conglomerates. The individual creators behind these works of imagination are taking to the streets to fight for fairness in their wages and livelihood.

Before I offer my perspective below, it’s useful to acknowledge and consider the different viewpoints on this situation. Here’s a primer on what’s going on.

TL;DR: Things boil down to the Writer’s Guild of America WGA, and AMPTP not reaching an agreement on compensation models, guaranteed human employment, and the ethical use of AI.

It’s a showdown between a union of writers and large corporations like Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Discovery-Warner, NBC Universal, Paramount, and Sony. A conflict that I think will repeat in many other sectors in the coming days.

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Perspectives: Corporate Capitalist vs. The Writer

The Corporate Capitalist

In the blind pursuit of profit, unbridled capitalism has many pitfalls. Often, corporations prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability and social responsibility. When a new technology arrives that can significantly reduce a team's work effort, corporations tend to adopt the tools in order to maximize profits. This leads to job displacement and wage stagnation for workers. That in turn has negative impacts on the workers’ livelihoods and the economy.

Why does this persist when we think common sense and human decency would prevail? This is simply a function of economic forces, how businesses operate in order to survive, systems of incentives, and the optimization of resources. I state this not to lay blame on any individual, but rather to understand how these complex systems work, and the unexpected outcomes they produce.

The writers strike illustrates this point perfectly. The AMPTP seems to be placing a bet that AI will ultimately render many of their employees’ specific tasks obsolete or easily replaceable. As a result, corporations undervalue the writers’ artistic contributions and seek alternatives through automation or the hiring of overseas talent.

The Writer

The entertainment industry is experiencing a major shift due to technological and economic forces. Streaming technology has disrupted traditional distribution channels and created new revenue streams for content creators.

However, it’s also led to concerns about how streaming royalties are calculated and distributed. The rise of the gig economy, globalization, and the centralization of power by a few large corporations has led to wage suppression.

The negotiations between the WGA and AMPTP are driven by the asymmetric balance of power caused by these trends. While these shifts have created new opportunities for content creators, they have also led to concerns about fair compensation and working conditions.

The union’s argument for higher wages isn’t ungrounded. Of the hundreds of billions of dollars generated by the entertainment industry, individuals who helped create the work deserve their fair share of the prosperity. That’s not the reality today.

The numbers around Profit & Loss are mostly opaque to the public, but this kind of discourse is necessary to get clarity and find balance. It’s also an opportunity to craft policy around the use of AI and ensure that it remains human-centered.

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Historical / Societal Perspective

“History does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes”. - Mark Twain

The industrial revolution had a profound impact on society, shaping the modern world in countless ways. There were tremendous improvements in living standards and economic growth over time.

However, the transition to industrialization wasn’t always peaceful. Many workers faced harsh working conditions, long hours, and low wages which caused a rising in labor unrest and protests.

In some cases, this unrest led to violent clashes and government intervention to suppress labor movements. The rise of capitalism and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few industrialists also contributed to social inequality and economic instability.

Sound familiar? There are echoes of the Industrial Revolution playing out with our modern-day technological revolution and the advent of productized AI. These sweeping changes create cascading effects on social norms, culture, and policy. We’re forced to reckon with the meaning and value of work as old jobs are destroyed and the creation of new jobs arise.

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A Technologist’s Perspective

Short Term

The early stages of generative AI present an enormous challenge and opportunity for creators. On one hand, creators have stability and reputation within a long-standing, well-funded organization. Many people will lose this. It’s scary and painful, but perhaps it’s a window to a new form of independence and sovereignty.

AI acts as a force multiplier, enabling creators to produce high-quality content with unprecedented speed and efficiency. Reducing the need for larger teams and organizations.

The internet has also given individuals the ability to reach a global audience without barriers to entry. While digital payments and currencies provide new avenues for monetization.

This new reality opposes the traditional gatekeepers of premium content like Hollywood and large corporations. The intermediaries are no longer essential for creators who have more options to produce and distribute their work. At the same time, companies will see an opportunity to cut expenses and consolidate their workforce.

This is a recipe for disruption. And history has taught us that change begets chaos as much as it creates opportunity. My hope is that we can learn from the past and co-create a better future.

Long Term

While the current state of AI technology is still rudimentary, it is evolving at an exponential rate, and the possibilities are limitless. AI could ultimately simulate anything and everything a human can do. From every word we speak/write/think (through software) to every action we perform (through robotics).

What is our occupation worth if an AI program can do it just as well, if not better, and for a fraction of the cost?

We have to rethink everything about our relationship to our career and work: what does it mean to be of value, what is the value we create, and how do we quantify and exchange that in a way where human life and dignity are protected in the process?

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What I Learned

The Human Perspective

In the age of AI, I hypothesize that human creators can still thrive. Why? I believe the answer lies in the unique qualities that humans bring to the table - authenticity, emotion, perspective, connection, and community. This is the light of consciousness that comes from lived experiences, traumas, and personal discoveries. It is unique to every individual.

Although AI can synthesize and replicate our perspectives, it is currently limited by the inputs, averages, and scoring used in the algorithm. Our individual lives, filled with joys and struggles, bestow a unique perspective that make us truly one-of-a-kind.

We flow our perspectives into the machine, enriching it. It responds with new patterns and insights, enriching us. It is cyclical and symbiotic.

The Path Forward

I see a future where individual creators can thrive within their own tight-knit communities, breaking free from a winner-take-all economy dominated by a few large conglomerates and platforms.

The rise of big YouTubers, famous podcast hosts, and celebrities in the influencer movement demonstrates this trend. The way we consume content and services has moved towards a tailored and personalized experience underpinned by authenticity and emotional connection with other living beings.

Furthermore, Substack has paved the way for writers to establish recurring revenue streams directly from their audience. Reducing their reliance on advertising, traditional media, and the influence of special interests.

The opportunity I see is for creators is to utilize AI as a tool to manifest their visions and emotions into reality. We will reach a point that simply speaking an idea to your AI assistant will immediately generate it into existence. Be it a movie, novel, videogame, or work of art.

By clearly articulating their thoughts and emotions through human expression, creators can connect with others and build strong, loyal patronage within their communities.

Moving Out of Scarcity

One of the key challenges with this vision is a simple one: creators need their patrons to have expendable income. When we are in resource scarcity, we are barely able to take care of ourselves, much less each other. This includes the writers, artists, and musicians. The people who shape our stories, build new possibilities in the world, and drive the cultural zeitgeist.

Studies back it up. Researchers show that the ability to financially support creators is often limited by economic factors, such as income and wealth inequality. According to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, nearly one in four American adults struggle to afford food or housing.

This statistic is devastating and is a lived reality for millions of people. But it is solvable, in part through equitable distribution of wealth and resources. We have the ability to create the conditions necessary for people to live and thrive, and for creators to be supported with their work.

The Case for UBI

Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a partial solution to this challenge. It may seem like a utopian idea, but it’s not so far out of reach and quite necessary. UBI programs have the potential to mediate the transition of jobs and our economy while establishing a new form of creative abundance.

A 2023 UBI study noted when people have their basic security guaranteed, it empowered women, families, and increased gender equality. It fostered a creativity and entrepreneurial boom with people starting small-scale businesses.

AI is expected to generate $15 Trillion+ in global GDP by 2030. Though it will create great abundance and opportunity, it will also obsolete many jobs that people depend on. How can we harvest and fairly distribute the gains of a technology we have all played a part in creating?

For better or worse, AI is an amalgamation of humanity. Every output it produces owes its origins to our inputs. If a group of artists paint a masterpiece and sells it, should the owner of the art studio get all of the money? If a band sells out a concert, should the venue take all the proceeds? If a team of writers produces a movie that generates billions, should the holding company and their executives keep all the profit?

How can we ease the transition of the people affected by this change, give them a soft landing, and create abundant opportunity?

Time to Build

In future meditations, I’ll explore the possible ways we can effectively design and roll out global, decentralized UBI protocols. Ones that can overcome the limitations of nation-state control, centralized ownership, and solvency.

This can be achieved through the integration of blockchain technology & open protocols, DAO governance models, and integrated products & services. By addressing these challenges, I believe we can create a more equitable and sustainable society that supports the creativity and contributions of all individuals. One full of abundance, fulfillment, connection, hope, and love.

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What I’m Doing This Week

Gratitude: I’m grateful for time with friends. To have my perspectives and assumptions challenged, to connect on shared experiences and struggles, to brainstorm solutions, to dream, and to laugh. It’s wonderful to be in the presence of kinship and unconditional love.

Listening to: Beautiful Chorus - Success. For affirmation and serenity.

Watching: All-In Podcast. To understand how billionaires think regarding technology, economics, venture capital, science, and friendship. My personal favorite is David Friedberg and in particular, his humane, optimistic perspective and sharp scientific knowledge. I appreciate his discourse about the present and future of lab-grown meat.

Reading: Octalysis Framework for Gamification & Behavioral Design. For inspiration on how to solve the AI alignment problem.

Self-care: Emotional processing and reflection, letting go, Reiki, rest.