The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA went on strike for months to secure protections against AI, but despite some stipulations, AI is still making its way into Hollywood. Lionsgate, the studio behind the John Wick and Hunger Games franchises, has partnered with AI startup Runway, as reported by the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by Runway in a press release. This partnership will grant Runway access to Lionsgate’s content library in exchange for a custom AI model for production and editing. This deal mirrors previous agreements with publishing houses like TIME and Dotdash Meredith, marking the first of its kind for the film and TV industry. Lionsgate’s Vice Chairman stated that the collaboration with Runway will help them stay competitive and save millions of dollars, sparking speculation about possible impacts on creatives’ paychecks. Meanwhile, Runway has faced accusations of using unauthorized content to train its AI system, leading to legal action from artists and a recent court ruling in their favor.
