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Jack Thorne warns some fellow scriptwriters are using AI ‘to cheat’
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Jack Thorne, one of Britain's most celebrated screenwriters and president of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, has warned that some of his fellow scriptwriters are using artificial intelligence to "cheat" rather than to enhance their craft. In a speech delivered in London, Thorne called for laws banning the secret use of AI to generate scripts, arguing that such practices betray both employers and the writing profession. His intervention underscores growing tensions over AI's role in creative industries and the urgent need for ethical guidelines.
Thorne is a towering figure in British theatre and television, having co-written the Netflix hit "Adolescence" and penned the stage play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." As president of the Writers' Guild, he represents thousands of writers. His comments come amid a broader debate about generative AI, with models like ChatGPT capable of producing plausible text. Thorne criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government for being "a bit dazzled by tech" and failing to protect writers' copyright from mass data scraping.
In his speech, Thorne revealed he had spoken to executives and studio heads about their AI use, receiving "hugely different responses." He said anecdotal evidence from writers close to him suggested some are using AI as a "replacement for endeavour" and "a replacement for writing at all." He clarified that he was not referring to using AI for brainstorming, spell-checking, or layout, but rather "using prompts instead of writing words." He described this as "failing to write" and "cheating their employers and their fellow writers."
Technically, generative AI models are trained on massive datasets, often including copyrighted scripts, books, and articles scraped from the internet. They use machine learning to predict and generate text based on user prompts. While these tools can assist with idea generation or editing, using them to produce entire scripts raises concerns about originality, plagiarism, and the erosion of human creativity. The secret use of such tools makes it difficult for employers to verify authorship and for unions to enforce standards.
In the short term, if writers secretly use AI, it could lead to a race to the bottom, with studios expecting faster, cheaper output. This undermines the collective bargaining power of writers and could result in lower wages and fewer jobs. In the long term, it risks devaluing the craft of writing, reducing cultural diversity, and flooding markets with formulaic content. Thorne warned that "if publishers, studios, streamers, can point to the writer as the problem, that gives them the excuse to behave however they'd like with content."
Reactions within the writing community have been mixed. Some writers support Thorne's call for transparency and ethics, while others argue that AI is just another tool and that resisting it is futile. The Writers' Guild of Great Britain has not yet announced specific policy proposals, but Thorne's presidency suggests the issue will be a priority. Industry executives may be wary of public backlash, but many are quietly exploring AI to cut costs. Government response remains muted, though pressure for regulation is growing.
Looking ahead, Thorne's speech is likely to intensify calls for legislation requiring disclosure of AI use in scriptwriting and protecting writers' copyright. The Writers' Guild may push for contractual clauses banning undisclosed AI-generated content. As AI capabilities advance, the industry will need to balance innovation with ethical standards. Thorne's warning serves as a wake-up call: without action, the integrity of screenwriting—and the livelihoods of writers—could be severely compromised. The coming months will reveal whether his words spur meaningful change or fade into the noise.
