Hollywood TV workers turn to AI training gigs as steady work drops

In short: Some people who used to make TV in Hollywood are now taking short-term jobs helping train AI systems to cover their bills.

What's going on

A new Wired report describes a growing pattern in Los Angeles. Screenwriters and other entertainment workers are picking up gig work that involves “training” AI. That usually means reading, writing, and labeling lots of examples so an AI system can learn what good output looks like (like showing flashcards to a student, over and over).

In the story, the writer says their name on these platforms can change depending on who pays. They also say that in eight months they did 20 separate contracts across five different platforms. The work is described as repetitive and draining, and it is treated as a stopgap while people wait for more stable creative jobs.

This reflects a broader shift in the job market. When regular work in one field slows down, people often take whatever flexible work they can find. The writer compares it to waiting tables, not because it is the same job, but because it is something many people do to get by while aiming for longer-term work.

What to watch

If more creative workers move into AI training, there will be bigger questions about pay, credit, and rights. For example, workers may want to know how their writing and ideas are being used, and whether it could later compete with the very jobs they are trying to return to.

Source: Wired