I Work in Hollywood. Everyone Who Used to Make TV Is Now Secretly Training AI

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A growing number of Hollywood writers and entertainment industry professionals are secretly working as AI trainers, often without public acknowledgment. This shift raises questions about industry displacement and ethical implications, as AI training becomes a hidden but significant part of tech development.

Multiple Hollywood writers and entertainment industry professionals are now secretly working as AI trainers, a role that involves assessing and improving large language models and other AI systems. This shift is happening amid ongoing industry tensions over AI’s potential to replace creative jobs, and it highlights a new, hidden labor force contributing to AI development.

Sources confirm that many writers and industry workers have taken on clandestine roles training AI systems, often through covert contracts and anonymous platforms. These roles include evaluating chatbot responses, annotating images, and generating content for AI safety testing. Many of these workers, who previously created TV and film content, are working for companies with names like Mercor, Outlier, and Turing, earning up to $150 per hour. The work is often done in secret to avoid industry backlash or contractual restrictions. One industry insider described how she began working as an AI trainer after her traditional Hollywood work dried up following strikes and industry upheaval. Accounts indicate that this work involves assessing AI responses for appropriateness, safety, and realism, often with little transparency about the companies involved or the scope of their projects.

Why It Matters

This development matters because it reveals a significant, largely hidden labor shift within the entertainment industry, where professionals are now contributing to AI development outside of public view. It raises concerns about the ethical implications of using industry talent for AI training without clear regulation, and the potential for job displacement as AI systems become more capable of performing tasks traditionally done by writers, actors, and other creatives. The clandestine nature of this work also complicates efforts to regulate AI’s role in media and entertainment, and it underscores the broader industry tensions over AI’s impact on employment and creative integrity.

Background

The rise of AI in media and entertainment has been marked by industry strikes, notably in 2023, over fears of job loss due to automation. While public disputes centered on contractual protections for writers and actors, behind the scenes, many industry workers have turned to AI training roles as a side gig or alternative income source. Reports from insiders indicate that AI training work has surged in recent months, often conducted anonymously or through unofficial channels. These roles involve evaluating chatbot responses, annotating data, and generating content for AI safety testing, often with little oversight or transparency. The trend reflects broader concerns about AI replacing human labor in creative fields, and it highlights a new, secretive labor market emerging at the intersection of Hollywood and AI development.

“I was down for some easy money. I too needed cash to pay rent, to buy food, to pay Maggie—the human still charging me a flat rate of 150 bucks to clean my apartment, a feat that AI had not yet figured out.”

— Anonymous Hollywood writer

“Many writers and industry workers are now secretly training AI models, often without their employers’ knowledge, to supplement their income or avoid displacement.”

— Industry insider familiar with AI training

What Remains Unclear

It remains unclear how widespread this practice is across the industry, the exact number of workers involved, or the long-term implications for employment and creative control. Details about the companies conducting these trainings and the full scope of their projects are still emerging. Additionally, the legal and ethical frameworks governing this hidden labor are not yet established or enforced.

What’s Next

Industry regulators, labor unions, and policymakers are likely to scrutinize these practices more closely. Expect increased calls for transparency and regulation around AI training roles, and potential efforts to formalize or restrict such work. Meanwhile, Hollywood workers and AI developers will continue to navigate this clandestine landscape, with the next steps possibly involving public disclosure or industry-wide agreements.

Key Questions

Why are Hollywood professionals working secretly on AI training?

Many are doing so to supplement their income after industry disruptions, such as strikes and job losses, and to avoid displacement by AI technology. The work is often done covertly to sidestep contractual restrictions and industry backlash.

Could this secret AI training threaten Hollywood jobs?

Yes. As AI systems become more capable, they could replace roles traditionally held by writers, actors, and other creatives. The clandestine training of AI models could accelerate this process by improving AI performance without industry oversight.

Are companies legally allowed to use industry workers for AI training without disclosure?

It is not yet clear. Many of these practices operate in legal gray areas, with workers often unaware of how their labor contributes to broader AI development efforts. Regulatory and legal frameworks are still catching up.

What is being done to address this hidden labor market?

Labor unions, industry regulators, and advocacy groups are beginning to investigate and call for transparency. Future measures may include regulations requiring disclosure of AI training practices and protections for workers involved in such roles.