Is AI a threat to Hollywood creatives?

+ medical exploitation of Black Americans US Edition - Today's top story: What are Hollywood actors and writers afraid of? A cinema scholar explains how AI is upending the movie and TV business [View in browser]( US Edition | 12 August 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Imagine you’re in a movie theater watching the closing seconds of a Hollywood blockbuster. The credits begin to roll, and under the heading “cast” is a list of actors’ names, each preceded by the words “the likeness of.” Next comes the names of the director and producers, followed by a long list of names under the heading “prompt engineers.” Nowhere in the credits do you see any mention of a cinematographer or screenwriter. This scenario, which some might call a nightmare, is plausible in the near future if artificial intelligence becomes the driving force behind the entertainment industry. This possibility is among the rationales for the strikes by Hollywood actors, which began in July, and writers – which crossed the 100-day mark a few days ago. University of Southern California cinema scholar Holly Willis [explains how this scenario could come to be]( and why creative professionals in the industry are worried. This week we also liked articles about [Trump’s latest court hearing](, [what can make your hair curlier in the summertime]( and why [Lahaina’s loss is traumatic for Native Hawaiians](. Eric Smalley Science + Technology Editor Hollywood writers picket in front of Warner Bros. Studios. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez [What are Hollywood actors and writers afraid of? A cinema scholar explains how AI is upending the movie and TV business]( Holly Willis, University of Southern California What would you do if the industry you work in could clone your skills, style and even the way you look and sound? The E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington, D.C., where an Aug. 11, 2023, hearing was held on the Trump case. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) [Trump’s free speech faces court-ordered limits, like any other defendant’s – 2 law professors explain why, and how Trump’s lawyers need to watch themselves too]( Thomas A. Durkin, Loyola University Chicago; Joseph Ferguson, Loyola University Chicago What can President Trump and his lawyers say about documents and witness statements used as evidence in his upcoming trial over his alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election? A view of the devastation in Lahaina, Hawaii, following the wildfires in August 2023. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer [Native Hawaiian sacred sites have been damaged in the Lahaina wildfires – but, as an Indigenous scholar writes, their stories will live on]( Rosalyn R. LaPier, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The region of Maui has been revered by its Indigenous peoples as a sacred place for generations. It is believed to be the home of Kihawahine, a woman who transformed into a goddess. - [Medical exploitation of Black people in America goes far beyond the cells stolen from Henrietta Lacks that produced modern day miracles]( Deion Scott Hawkins, Emerson College Medical exploitation is an often overlooked part of Black history and partly explains the mistrust that members of the Black community have for the medical industry. - [Why does your hair curl in the summer? A chemist explains the science behind hair structure]( Tara S. Carpenter, University of Maryland, Baltimore County A chemist explains how the structure of your hair follicles, your genetic code and environmental factors like humidity influence how hair behaves on a day-to-day basis. - [Hitler, Burr and Trump: Show trials put the record straight for history but can also provide a powerful platform for the defendant]( Stefanie Lindquist, Arizona State University Donald Trump’s trial for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election will promote accountability – but could this show trial have a dangerous outcome, too? - [A brief illustrated guide to ‘scissors congruence’ − an ancient geometric idea that’s still fueling cutting-edge mathematical research]( - [US autoworkers may wage a historic strike against Detroit’s 3 biggest automakers – with wages at EV battery plants a key roadblock to agreement]( - [Who likes Donald Trump? Lots of Republicans, but especially Hispanic voters, plus very rural and very conservative people]( - [Yellow jerseys of the fireline: A day fighting wildfires can require as much endurance as riding the Tour de France]( - [Building relationships is key for first-year college students – here are 5 easy ways to meet new friends and mentors]( - [Hotels play vital roles in relief efforts when disaster such as the Maui wildfires strikes]( - [Zebrafish are a scientist’s favorite for early-stage research – especially to study human blood disorders]( - [What’s the difference between a startup and any other business?]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( Which Hawaiian island suffered devastating, deadly wildfires this week? - A. Kauai - B. Oahu - C. Maui - D. Molokai [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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