Netflix lists $900,000 AI job amid actor and writer strike

A recent Netflix AI job listing promises a $900,000 salary as actors and writers protest insufficient compensation, less than $26,000 annually on average. Meanwhile, Hollywood allegedly made a strange proposal to the disgruntled artists. It wants to scan actors with artificial intelligence so that it can use their likenesses in movies and series indefinitely.

Technical revolutions often bring massive job losses, such as numerous factory workers losing their roles to industrial machines. Nowadays, businesses like Netflix follow this trend as it hires AI professionals. Understanding this trend will show you how AI affects daily life so that you can adapt immediately.

This article will discuss the Netflix AI roles and the company’s digital goals. Then, I will elaborate on the ongoing actor and writer strike against Hollywood.

What are the latest Netflix AI jobs?

Netflix posts job listings on job portals like LinkedIn, but it also shows them on its website. The most interesting role on Netflix Jobs is the “Product Manager – Machine Learning Platform.”

Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence. As the name suggests, the product manager will oversee the creation and maintenance of the company’s AI products and services.

The AI product manager will plan how the business will apply artificial intelligence to existing systems. More importantly, the streaming company says the salary range is roughly $300,000 to $900,000 annually.

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Conversely, the actors and writers protesting their lack of pay earn around $26,000 yearly. The Netflix AI manager will also have a team of fellow AI experts:

• Applied Machine Learning Scientist will lead ML innovation and earn roughly $150,000 to $750,000.
• Engineering Manager will spearhead Netflix AI research for $449,000 to $842,000.
• Software Engineers will create new AI products and services for $100,000 to $700,000.

Why are actors and writers on strike?

THE STUDIOS/AMPTP WANT TO SCAN BACKGROUND ACTORS AND USE THEIR LIKENESS FOR AI WITHOUT CONSENT OR PAY what the fuck #SAGAFTRA pic.twitter.com/V3pNpWvyjJ

— v (@reionfilm) July 13, 2023

The actor-writer protest started when the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP) failed to form a new contract. However, it grew to draw attention to their other issues.

Entertainment Weekly said actors have struggled to earn a living wage due to inflation and inadequate pay. Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA worries about the impact of streaming and artificial intelligence.

It has struggled to adapt to the rapid shift from network and cable TV to online streaming. More importantly, Hollywood allegedly proposed indefinitely scanning actors’ likenesses to include them in shows and films.

On July 13, 2023, SAG chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland received an AI proposal, which baffled her and fellow protestors. Then, her statement appeared on Twitter the next day:

“The groundbreaking AI proposal that they gave us yesterday…they proposed that our background performers should be able to be scanned, get paid for one day’s pay, and their company should own that scan, their image, their likeness, and to be able to use it for the rest of eternity in any project they want, with no consent and no compensation.”

SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher delivered an intense speech to announce the actor-writer strike. “We are being victimized by a very greedy entity. I am shocked by the way the people that we have been in business with are treating us,” Drescher said.

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“I cannot believe it, quite frankly. How far apart we are on so many things. How they plead poverty, that they’re losing money left and right while giving hundreds and millions of dollars to their CEOs. It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history at this very moment.”

“The entire business model has been changed by streaming, digital, and AI. This is a moment of history that is a moment of truth. If we don’t stand tall right now, we are going to be in trouble. We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines and big business, who cares more about Wall Street than you and your family.”

The AMPTP stated it is willing to accept SAG-AFTRA’s AI demands. It promises to request informed consent before digitally recreating an artist and provide fair compensation. Still, they must address the other issues fueling the protest.

Conclusion

New Netflix AI job listings appeared as writers and actors called out for a living wage. These roles may signify the streaming website’s further plans to digitalize online streaming.

After all, it has been artificial intelligence for many of its recent shows and films. For example, it launched a Spanish reality series, Deep Fake Love, which featured couples watching fake videos of partners cheating.

Netflix has not commented further about the job listings at the time of writing. Learn more about artificial intelligence and its worldwide impact at Inquirer Tech.