Key facts
- Screenwriter Jack Thorne warned that some writers are using AI to cheat by replacing writing with prompts.
- Thorne called for laws to ban the secret use of AI in script generation.
- He stated that passing AI-generated content off as original work should be considered fraud.
- Thorne urged broadcasters like the BBC and Channel 4 to threaten sanctions against those using AI to generate their work.
- He criticized government inaction in protecting writers' intellectual property from AI models.
- A government spokesperson said copyright laws must protect the UK's creative sector while enabling AI innovation.
Jack Thorne, a prominent British screenwriter, has voiced concerns that some individuals in his profession are using artificial intelligence to "cheat" by replacing genuine writing with AI-generated content. Thorne, who co-wrote the Netflix drama "Adolescence" and penned the stage play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," advocated for legal measures to prohibit the undisclosed use of AI in script creation.
Speaking in London, Thorne criticized the government for its perceived inaction regarding the mass scraping of creative material by AI companies to train their models. He suggested that the current government has been "a bit dazzled by tech" and has failed to adequately protect writers' copyrights. Thorne also shared anecdotal evidence from executives and writers indicating that AI is being used as a substitute for the writing process itself, which he believes constitutes "cheating" employers and fellow writers.
Thorne emphasized that using AI for assistance, such as spell-checking or layout adjustments, is distinct from using it as a complete replacement for writing. He argued that passing AI-generated content off as one's own should be deemed fraud, with significant legal and professional repercussions, akin to university penalties for plagiarism. He called on broadcasters like the BBC and Channel 4 to implement sanctions against those found to have used AI improperly.