The incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the new Marvel superhero series ‘Secret Invasion’ has sparked concerns and outrage within Hollywood, particularly at a time when television and film writers are already striking due to uncertainty about their future. In a recent interview, director Ali Selim revealed that AI, along with human illustrators, was used to generate the show’s opening credits. The abstract sequence combines green-tinted urban landscapes, spaceships, and enigmatic human characters who gradually reveal themselves as the reptilian extra-terrestrial ‘Skrulls’ featured in the series.
Selim explained to Polygon that the use of AI was intended to create a sense of “foreboding.” He mentioned that when they approached AI vendors, it aligned with the shape-shifting, Skrull world concept. However, this revelation did not sit well with many in Hollywood, as fears grow regarding AI potentially replacing jobs for scriptwriters, designers, and even actors. Netflix and Disney’s refusal to rule out the possibility of AI replacing human creatives was one of the factors that led to the ongoing writers’ strike, which has now entered its eighth week.
Jeff Simpson, credited as the show’s visual development concept artist, expressed his concerns on Twitter, stating, “I’m really concerned about the impacts of this. I’m devastated; I believe AI to be unethical, dangerous, and designed solely to eliminate artists’ careers.” Jon Lam, a storyboard artist, also criticized the use of AI, stating that it felt like “salt in the wounds of all Artists and Writers in the WGA strike.”
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has requested binding agreements from studios and streaming platforms to regulate the use of AI. Their proposed agreements outline that anything written by AI should not be considered “literary” or “source” material, which are industry terms determining royalty distribution. Additionally, scripts written by WGA members should not be used to train AI. However, the WGA reported that studios rejected their proposal and offered only an annual meeting to “discuss advancements in technology.”
Method Studios, the company credited with creating the main titles for ‘Secret Invasion,’ defended the use of AI, stating that it was just one of many tools utilized by their artists. They emphasized that no artists’ jobs were replaced by the use of AI.
In summary, the use of AI in the production of ‘Secret Invasion’ has raised concerns among Hollywood creatives, leading to fears of potential job displacement and calls for regulation from writers’ guilds. The debate surrounding AI’s impact on the entertainment industry and its ethical implications continues to be a topic of contention.
