Charlie Brooker's Verdict: ChatGPT Falls Short in Generating 'Black Mirror' Episodes

"Black Mirror" creator Charlie Brooker shares his experience with OpenAI's ChatGPT. While the generative AI chatbot has taken the internet by storm, Brooker was unimpressed when he asked it to generate an episode of his dystopian sci-fi series.

Instead of creating something new, ChatGPT summarized old "Black Mirror" episodes into a mishmash that resembled a script for a new episode. Brooker described it as something that seemed plausible at first glance but fell short upon closer examination.

As the sixth season of "Black Mirror" approaches, the notion of using AI to continue or reboot popular properties gains traction. Actress and computer scientist Justine Bateman envisions training an AI program on an older TV series, like "Family Ties," to generate additional seasons.

However, concerns loom as TV and film writers navigate the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. The growing influence of generative AI raises questions about the potential replacement of human writers. Studios utilizing chatbots like ChatGPT worry members of the striking guild.

Screenwriter and TV producer Josh Friedman highlights the worry that studios may exploit AI-generated material by producing generic or subpar episodes and assigning a single writer to edit the output. This could replace the collaborative effort of a team of writers.

The concern goes beyond the labor dispute. Some argue that using AI to generate content verges on high-tech plagiarism. Writer and producer Molly Nussbaum draws a parallel with using AI to write a college paper, where it would be considered plagiarism.

The intersection of AI and creative industries continues to spark debates and raise important questions about the role of AI in content creation. As technology evolves, finding a balance between innovation and preserving the integrity of creative processes becomes crucial.