Disney CEO Bob Iger jokes about AI replacing him months before actors strike

Business

From Ariel Zilber

July 17, 2023 | 11:07

Disney chief Bob Iger earlier this year joked about the artificial intelligence that replaced him as the CEO comments that in hindsight he may seem deaf as Hollywood grapples with a strike by writers and actors fearful that the rapid advances in technology can make them obsolete.

I’m looking forward to a time where maybe AI makes earnings calls for me, Iger joked during an earnings call in May.

You probably, maybe wouldn’t know the difference, said the CEO, who reportedly told confidants that he hadn’t anticipated the amount of work needed to get Disney back on track.

Maybe they would be better off. I do not know.

An audio recording of the call was first obtained by independent journalist Lee Fang, who revealed the contents in his Substack newsletter over the weekend.

Iger said that while he was optimistic about AI’s prospects due to its ability to create efficiencies, he acknowledged it would be disruptive.

We’re already starting to use AI to create some efficiencies and ultimately better serve consumers, Iger said.

It is also clear that AI will be highly disruptive and may be difficult to manage, particularly from an intellectual property (IP) management perspective.

Iger said on the call that Disney’s legal team is already working overtime trying to address what could be some of the challenges here.

Overall, I’m optimistic about the outlook because I think it will create efficiencies and ways to better serve customers, Iger told investors.

On the other hand, there’s a lot to contend with that’s going to be pretty disruptive and pretty challenging.

The Post asked Disney for a comment.

Iger is one of several media and entertainment executives struggling with strong economic headwinds that have been exacerbated by shrinking TV audiences, money-losing streaming initiatives, and a work stoppage that threatens to cripple the sector.

Hollywood actors’ union leaders voted on Thursday to join writers in the first joint strike in more than six decades, halting production in the entertainment industry after talks over a new deal with studios and streaming services stalled. interrupted.

The actors and writers picketed outside the studio headquarters in New York and Los Angeles on Friday.

The striking actors and writers have called on studios to put in place safeguards that safeguard their jobs by limiting the use of generative AI tools.

AI has been used in recent years to age actors, stitch up movie trailers, and bring back the voices and likenesses of dead actors.

Actors union representatives said last week that studio executives proposed they could digitally scan performers and then be able to use the computer-generated likeness in perpetuity.

Iger warned that the strike would have a very damaging effect on the entire industry.

This is the worst time in the world to add to this outage, Iger told CNBC last week.

There’s a level of expectation they have that isn’t realistic.