Jack Thorne warns of AI use in screenwriting

Screenwriter Jack Thorne has accused some of his colleagues of using artificial intelligence to “cheat” by replacing actual writing with AI-generated content. Speaking on behalf of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, Thorne distinguished between using AI for administrative assistance—such as spelling, formatting, or organizing ideas—and using it as a “replacement for endeavour.”

Thorne argued that writers who use prompts instead of writing words are deceiving both their employers and their fellow creatives. He called for total transparency regarding the provenance of scripts, suggesting that failing to disclose the use of AI should be legally classified as fraud. He noted that if a writer pitches a concept to a studio like Netflix and subsequently delivers an AI-generated script without disclosure, the company should have the right to pursue legal action.

Furthermore, Thorne urged major broadcasters, including the BBC and Channel 4, to implement industry-led sanctions and professional consequences for those who pass off AI-generated material as their own original work.