In a move that’s shocking to none and still somehow feels out of left field, major studios are on the hunt for their own AI specialist, cementing the fears of writers and actors everywhere, as well as many reasons for the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.

Disney and Sony, along with other studios, are also offering six-figure salaries for an AI specialist.

The job listing posted by Netflix stated that their business is “driven by Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence, which fuels innovation in content creation and acquisition, personalization, payment processing, and other revenue-centric initiatives.”

Indie filmmaker Joe Russo tweeted, “Netflix is willing to pay an AI plagiarist more than they were willing to buy our screenplay.”

As for Disney, they posted a job for an R&D Imagineer focused on generative AI. The posting reads that they are seeking someone with “ambition to push the limits of what AI tools can create and understand the difference between the voice of data and the voice of a designer, writer or artist.” The role will “collaborate with third party studios, universities, organizations, and developers to evaluate, adopt, and integrate the latest generative AI.” 

The base salary for this job posting is $180,00 per year, with opportunities for bonuses. This is following statements saying that studios can’t afford to pay writers more than the typical $26,000 a year salary they make (and that’s just the lucky ones). 

Actor Rob Delaney said in a statement to The Intercept “so $900k/yr per soldier in their godless AI army when that amount of earnings could qualify thirty-five actors and their families for SAG-AFTRA health insurance is just ghoulish. Having been poor and rich in this business, I can assure you there’s enough money to go around; it’s just about priorities.”