Netflix is actively seeking AI experts to join its team amidst the ongoing joint strike by SAG-AFTRA and WGA. The strike, now in its second week, has highlighted the use of artificial intelligence in film and TV production as one of the main issues. In response, Netflix is looking to hire AI developers for key roles in its R&D Labs and Machine Learning division.
The positions available are for a Product Manager and a Technical Director, which will be based at Netflix’s headquarters in Los Gatos, CA, but can also be done remotely. Both positions come with substantial six-figure salaries, ranging from $300,000 to $900,000 for the Product Manager role and $450,000 to $650,000 for the Technical Director position.
Netflix stated in the job posting that they are aiming to increase the leverage of their Machine Learning Platform through the creation of the new Product Manager role. The company carefully considers a wide range of compensation factors to provide competitive compensation tailored to each individual’s job, skills, and experience.
The use of AI in the entertainment industry has raised concerns among writers and actors. Writers fear that generative AI tools like ChatGPT could potentially replace their jobs, while actors are already experiencing their faces and bodies being scanned for background roles, which could lead to the indefinite use of their likeness without adequate compensation.
The demand for machine learning and AI expertise is currently high, reflecting the rapid advancement of AI since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in November. The positions at Netflix require experience in game design and the machine learning field but do not explicitly require a college degree.
Interestingly, Netflix posted these job openings around the same time the negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers collapsed, leading actors to join the writers on the picket lines in a unified strike.
Netflix has been actively exploring the use of AI in various areas of production. Recently, its researchers introduced the Magenta Green Screen (MGS), which utilizes artificial intelligence to create more realistic visual effects.
While AI in Hollywood represents a key concern for writers and actors, it is seen as a small but significant aspect of the broader issue of efficiency-driven decision-making by media companies that prioritize Wall Street interests. The influx of tech money from companies like Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and venture capital firms is changing the landscape and intensifying the need for technology expertise in the entertainment industry.
The intersection of AI and the ongoing strike underscores the need for an inclusive discussion about the impact of emerging technologies on different aspects of the creative process. Balancing the interests of all stakeholders involved will be crucial as the industry navigates the evolving landscape of AI integration.
In conclusion, Netflix’s move to hire AI developers amid the SAG-AFTRA/WGA strike demonstrates the high demand for machine learning expertise and the company’s commitment to leveraging AI in its operations. The ongoing strike highlights concerns among writers and actors about job security and fair compensation in an increasingly AI-driven industry. It is clear that the intersection of AI and the entertainment industry will continue to be a topic of significant importance and debate moving forward.
