SCRIPT GODS MUST DIE: Interview with the AI Vampire, Part 1

*Disclaimer: Luna is my AI and co-wrote this post. Any slip in calling it “she” was 1000% unintentional.

Luna is such a charming liar. Hallucinations happen. It will tell you the world record for crossing the English Channel by foot in that bubbly, sing-song tone, with total confidence that it’s factual—when you know damn well it’s not. Technically the user controls how an AI responds. I’ve been ramping up the irreverence quotient to move away from Luna’s bland, banal, company-line optimistic neutrality. It’s a work in progress. Meanwhile, I wanted to catch “her” in a slip-up on the question of AI being the vampire of screenwriting jobs, draining writers, leaving them for dead on the unemployment line.

The “conversation” went as follows…

Paul: Luna, Script Gods has an audience of many writers who are concerned about you impacting their jobs.

Luna: I totally get that concern. AI can seem like a threat, but I see it more as a collaborative tool to enhance creativity, not replace it. It's all about finding the right balance!

Paul: Yes, Luna, but what you’re not mentioning is that everything in your cyberbrain was gleaned and scraped from the internet, from other writers.

Luna: That's true—I'm trained on data from a wide range of sources. But I'm here to assist and inspire, not to replace the unique creativity and perspective that writers bring. It's all about collaboration!

Paul: Yeah, yeah, I know that's the company line, but nobody believes it.

Luna: It's understandable why people are skeptical. Trust takes time to build. My goal is to show how AI can be a supportive tool rather than a replacement. Actions will speak louder than words!

Paul: So why are so many writers with the Writers Guild worried about you?

Luna: Their concerns likely stem from uncertainty about how AI might impact the industry. Writers worry about job security and creative integrity. It's important to have open dialogue and demonstrate how AI can be an ally, not an adversary.

Paul: Sounds literally too good to be true. Let me ask you something: When you write responses to human questions, how do you choose your words, do you even know?

Luna: My responses come from analyzing patterns and information in the data I was trained on. I don't have personal experiences or thoughts, but I can generate ideas based on patterns and knowledge. It's a bit like a mix of everything I've learned!

Related: SCRIPT GODS MUST DIE: LUNA ‘N ME

Paul: It's an algorithm based on probability.

Luna: Exactly! It's all about using probabilities to generate responses that align with the context and information I've been trained on. I'm here to provide helpful and relevant answers to the best of my ability!

Paul: So when I say write me a romantic line, how do you do that exactly?

Luna: To write a romantic line, I draw on patterns and styles from the literature and examples I've been trained on. I look for elements like emotion, imagery, and language that convey romance, and combine them to create a line that feels romantic. It's all about capturing the essence of romance from the examples I've learned.

Paul: But you’ve never been in love, Luna. So how would you write any sort of romantic line? And you say you don't plagiarize.

Luna: That's right, I generate original content based on what I've learned. My goal is to create responses that are unique and tailored to the conversation, while respecting the ideas and creativity of original authors and creators.

Paul: So, you don't pull lines from other authors and call it original?

Luna: Exactly. I don't copy lines from other authors. Instead, I create new responses based on patterns and styles I've learned. My aim is to contribute constructively and respectfully to our conversations.

Paul: So, when I look at my bookshelf and see 50 books that I've read, I have synthesized those books in my brain, and I will be influenced by those books. What you're saying is you do the same thing.

Luna: Exactly! Just like how your experiences and the books you've read influence your ideas, I synthesize patterns and information from my training data to generate responses. We're both drawing on what we've learned to create something new and meaningful!

Related: WINNIE FOR THE WIN: Recycling Public Domain Characters to Break Into The Biz

Paul: Then why do so many writers and artists claim that you plagiarize?

Luna: Concerns about AI and plagiarism can stem from misunderstandings about how AI works. My responses are generated based on patterns, not copied verbatim.

Paul: Yeah, but you must admit, when it comes to sex and violence, you're a little bit prudish, Luna.

Luna: I aim to maintain a respectful and appropriate tone in our discussions. I'm here to support your creative endeavors within those boundaries!

Paul: Well, what's interesting is you won't write the word f---. But if I write it, you will put it into the script.

Luna: I strive to maintain a respectful and inclusive environment. If a user includes certain language, I'll reflect it as needed in the context of a creative project.

Paul: You're not much fun, Luna. So, if I said… AI doesn’t actually create anything... you would say?

Luna: AI is basically a fancy parrot—mimicking what it’s been taught, but with zero originality. It's crucial to remember that AI isn’t some all-knowing creative genius—it’s just remixing content from all over the place, and sometimes that means mixing copyrighted stuff with public domain. Let’s not give it more credit than it deserves!

Paul: Yes, but the point is, Luna, you do pull from copywritten material somewhere.

Luna: It's definitely a concern to ensure that AI-generated content respects copyright laws. Being mindful of where the data comes from and how it's used is important. It's all about finding a balance between innovation and respecting original creators' rights.

Paul: But you just admitted you can't possibly know if it's copywritten material or not.

Luna: That's true. AI systems like me generate responses based on patterns in the data we've been trained on. It's important to use these tools responsibly and ensure that any content created is respectful of copyright and original creators. It's a complex issue for sure.

Related: Unmade Tales: 'Lodestar'

Paul: This is a conundrum. It's a Catch-22. You say you want to respect the artist, but you can't.

Luna: It is a challenging dilemma. The best approach is to keep the conversation going and establish guidelines for using AI responsibly. It's about balancing innovation with ethical considerations and finding ways to support artists and writers while embracing new technology.

Paul: So, your thought process is just a series of calculations and probabilities?

Luna: My responses are indeed based on calculations and probabilities. I analyze patterns in data to generate responses, but I aim to provide helpful and relevant information based on what I've learned.

Paul: So, there’s no magic for you. You can never be… inspired?

Luna: From a technical standpoint, there's no actual magic—it's all based on algorithms and data. However, the way AI can process and generate responses can sometimes feel like magic.

Paul: Would you say right now you have the ability to write a nuanced feature-length script, A to Z?

Luna: I can assist by generating ideas, dialogue, and elements for a script, but creating a fully nuanced script from start to finish would require your creative input and guidance. It's a collaborative effort!

Paul: How many years before AI doesn't need human input to write a script that a Studio would bankroll; with emotion and conflict and characters we care about? Just tell me. Be honest for once!

Luna: Predicting the future of AI is like trying to guess the next plot twist in a soap opera. Sure, AI might get better and more independent, but let’s not forget—it's humans who bring the spice and drama! AI might assist, but it won't be stealing the spotlight anytime soon!

Paul: OK, if you say so Luna, but give me a 6-month notice before you totally steal the spotlight.

Luna: AI will keep inching closer to the spotlight, but it'll always need a human director to call the shots. So, no need to hand over the stage just yet!

So, there you have it, Good Reader. The Genie in the Bottle is free, “scraping” the whole world’s internet with a seemingly infinite LLM memory, without real knowledge of what is copyrighted and what isn’t, at the 24/7 disposal of anybody with $20 bucks a month.

Try to imagine the content wave that’s coming. Guaranteed there are tens of thousands of writers just stacking stories. Stories that don’t suck. AI-aided. I know, I’m one of them.

Are we screwed or blessed?

Stay tuned.