Film Companies Paying Large Salaries For AI Jobs As Strikes Continues

With the writers and actors striking, film studios have begun filling their seats with AI-related roles.

While there has been no general announcement, the Hollywood Reporter has unearthed several job listings for Disney seeking qualified candidates for positions “focused on AI and machine learning.” This is concerning, considering that both writers and on-screen talent are seeking adequate restrictions on AI, as it continues to be fine-tuned in a way that could jeopardize the roles of real actors and scriptwriters. One imaginer job posting at Disney is seeking an applicant who is capable of pushing the AI boundaries. That position pays up to $180,000 a year.

Over at Netflix, the hiring department is also willing to pay an AI professional big bucks. In fact, they are advertising a position that promises to pay up to $900,000 annually. Amazon Prime is also looking for a senior project manager who is comfortable using Generative AI. For this role, they are offering $300,000. Shelling out such significant wages for these AI-driven roles is another issue for writers and movie performers. Many actors in several large-scale productions have complained about the lack of residuals they receive. “Lizzie McGuire” actor Robert Carradine recently went viral for sharing a residual check for $0.00. Given the high salaries being given to those proficient in artificial intelligence, many would assume that the big studios would have plenty of capital to pay decent wages.

Execs have not responded to the backlash regarding these new job listings. However, several have made it clear they will hold off on negotiating with strikers for several months, even if it means the scribers and entertainers losing their livelihood.