Introduction
In the ever-evolving world of technology and entertainment, the recent Black Mirror episode, “Joan Is Awful,” has thrust a pressing issue into the spotlight: the potential replacement of human actors with artificial intelligence. The episode’s premise revolves around Joan, a woman who discovers that unethical executives are using her likeness to create an AI-generated version of her, played by Salma Hayek, in a disturbing biographical drama. This unsettling storyline delves into a looming concern: the future of actors and their roles in an industry increasingly driven by AI.
Main body
The quote that “AI will eventually replace all actors” resonates deeply with the entertainment industry, as it parallels the ongoing concerns of the Screen Actors Guild-AFTRA (SAG-AFTRA) strike. The fear of deepfakes and AI-generated actors taking over the industry creates a sense of vulnerability and insecurity among actors and industry professionals alike (Heritage). When mulling over the potential effects of AI supplanting on-screen characters, one cannot help but think of a parallel in pop culture. The film industry is no stranger to themes of AI and automation, with movies like “Blade Runner” and “Ex Machina” exploring the implications of sentient AI (Elyamany 1199; Heffernan 130). These films serve as cautionary tales, much like “Joan Is Awful,” warning people about the ethical and existential dilemmas that AI can bring to people’s lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Joan Is Awful” serves as a poignant reminder of the ever-advancing technology that could reshape the entertainment industry. This episode’s themes not only echo the concerns of SAG-AFTRA members but also resonate with the broader implications of AI in society. As humankind explores this complex terrain, it is pivotal to consider the moral and administrative systems that will protect the rights and imaginative expressions of performing artists, avoiding a future where AI-generated on-screen characters rule on screens.
Works Cited
Elyamany, Nashwa. “Postcyberpunk dystopian cityscape and emotion artificial intelligence: A Spatio-cognitive analysis of posthuman representation in blade runner 2049 (2017).” Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, vol. 29, no. 5, 2022, pp. 1199–1225. Web.
Heffernan, Teresa. “Fiction Meets Science: Ex Machina, Artificial Intelligence, and the Robotics Industry.” Cyborg Futures: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2020, pp. 127–140.
Heritage, Stuart. “Joan Is Awful: Black Mirror Episode Is Every Striking Actor’s Worst Nightmare.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2023. Web.