WGAE Statement on Hearst Deal with OpenAI

New York, NY (October 10, 2024) – The following is a statement from the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) on Hearst’s deal with OpenAI:

This week, Hearst became the latest WGAE shop to strike a content deal with OpenAI. The threat OpenAI and other artificial intelligence tools pose to journalism and the public is inconceivable, especially given how these deals lack transparency about how Guild’s members work will be used to train AI models, generate plagiarized material or protect the intellectual property created by Guild members. It is abhorrent and irresponsible that media companies would trade in their credibility for quick cash at the same time numerous news organizations and writers are in litigation with OpenAi over these very issues.  

In addition, these deals further contribute to AI’s dangerous environmental impact. We cannot ignore the severe consequences AI poses to furthering climate change. 

The Writers Guild of America East maintains that generative artificial intelligence is theft and is a mandatory subject of bargaining. We will not stop fighting to protect our members’ work and livelihood from this existential threat.

ABOUT THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA EAST
The Writers Guild of America East, AFL-CIO (WGAE) is a labor union of more than 7,500 members working in film, television, news, podcasts, and online media. The Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers’ views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America East, visit wgaeast.org.

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