On August 2, 2023, Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and Austin Lentsch published an op-ed for Project Syndicate. In it, they highlight that as AI advances, Hollywood screenwriters and other knowledge workers face either displacement or enhanced productivity. Drawing parallels with the early twentieth-century manufacturing industry, they argue that shared prosperity depends on creating new tasks and ensuring workers have bargaining power. The WGA strike could set a precedent for integrating AI into knowledge work. Automation could lead to short-term profit but risks losing human creativity. Alternatively, we could use AI to boost creativity and productivity, benefiting workers and the industry.

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