The latest season of Netflix Inc’s “Black Mirror,” a celebrated sci-fi series, features a plotline in which an office manager discovers a streaming platform recreating her life with an avatar of Salma Hayek.
In the opening episode, which aired on Thursday, Hayek’s character sells her digital likeness to Hollywood, enabling it to be used in AI-generated content.
Annie Murphy, renowned for her role in “Schitt’s Creek” and playing the office manager in this episode, expressed that the narrative underlines the genuine concerns of actors and writers. In early May, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) initiated a strike, partly due to apprehensions about studios turning to AI systems to produce scripts, replacing human creativity.
“I hope that this episode casts light on what they are advocating for and their reasons for doing so,” Murphy commented during an interview.
“The concern isn’t just about writers being overly sensitive. They are questioning if they could be substituted by machines, which is a profoundly unsettling prospect for anyone,” she added.
The emergence of convincing “deepfakes” featuring celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, and Hayek has only heightened these anxieties. The SAG-AFTRA actors union is currently negotiating with Hollywood studios to secure safeguards for utilizing their likenesses.
“While I sincerely hope audiences find humour and entertainment in our unexpectedly lighthearted ‘Black Mirror’ episode, I also wish for it to ignite important dialogues or multiple dialogues, about the potentially disastrous consequences of unrestrained AI,” Murphy shared.
According to Murphy, she and Hayek discussed these concerns during the filming of “Black Mirror.”
“We conversed about the numerous offensive and disrespectful ways her image has been exploited,” said Murphy.
In a time when the world rapidly embraces digital innovation, Murphy’s role in the new ‘Black Mirror’ season mirrors the entertainment industry’s concerns about AI’s burgeoning influence. It also serves as a reminder that while technological advancements can open up unprecedented possibilities, it’s equally essential to set boundaries to protect the sanctity of human creativity and identity. As we delve deeper into the AI age, the show continues to stimulate critical thought about our increasingly tech-driven society, revealing the profound implications of surrendering our image to the digital realm.
