Writers in a World of AI

As a technology, AI is developing and moving into our lives faster than we could have imagined. This controversial technology has the capacity to do damage, yes, but for some creators it can give them a chance to tell their stories without needing a greenlight from gatekeepers in the industry. It is extremely complex to use, requiring a creative mind and human touch to properly function. The approach of this class is that AI is a tool, the story comes first.

Whether you're an AI enthusiast or a tech skeptic, a better understanding of how this technology is affecting writers and what it actually can (and can't) do and replace, will set writers up to engage with it (or refuse to) thoughtfully, ethically, and with their authentic voice. We'll look at an overview of AI video examples, followed by a discussion of ethical issues, work rights, and how to protect one's own work.

This class is open to all genres, but many of the examples will come from filmmaking. We'll discuss what's happening in the trades and do an (optional) writing exercise using ChatGPT, exploring how some writers are using it for brainstorming elements like character, story structure, and beats.

Writers will be asked to send the instructor a quick email before class detailing their feelings about this emerging technology, what they hope to gain from the class, what they would like to explore so we can go forward productively. We’ll use the first half of class to see how AI is being used, and we'll have the chance to explore the ethics of its use during the second half.