Charlie Brooker reveals his experience with AI collaboration for Black Mirror episode
The creator of the critically acclaimed TV series “Black Mirror,” Charlie Brooker, has revealed his experience with AI collaboration for one of the episodes. In an interview with Empire, he disclosed that he tried using ChatGPT to generate a Black Mirror episode, but the result was dissatisfactory. He explained that the AI model merely compiled and mashed synopses from previous Black Mirror episodes, and there was no original, imaginative thought in it. In his words, “it’s [1970s impressionist] Mike Yarwood – there’s a topical reference.”
In the interview, Brooker stated that the experience turned out to be helpful, as it helped him learn what not to do in future Black Mirror episodes. He pointed out that, as with most Black Mirror episodes, the problem typically isn’t the technology but how humans use it. He stated that he was aware that he had written several episodes where the characters find themselves inside a computer. Therefore, he changed his approach and decided to be free from preconceived notions of what makes a good Black Mirror episode.
‘Beyond The Sea’ – A new episode with a different approach from Charlie Brooker
The interview also disclosed that “Beyond The Sea,” a fresh episode of “Black Mirror,” will soon premiere on Netflix. Starring Aaron Paul, Kate Mara, and Josh Hartnett, the episode portrays a mission set in an alternative 1969, which Brooker described as “sort of dystopian past, present and future.” While speaking about the episode, he explained that initially, he only had the plot outline but later thought of setting it in the late 1960s and realized that using characters from that time influenced their behaviour and thinking.
Brooker also noted that while he didn’t intend for there to be any deliberate rejection of nostalgia, setting the episode in a different time was a fun and creative decision. “I thought ‘What if I set this in the late ’60s?’ That’d be, like, disruptive and cool,” he said. “But I don’t think there was a deliberate rejection of nostalgia, so much as it was just a fun thing to do.”
Editorial and philosophical discussion
Charlie Brooker’s experience with ChatGPT is a clear indication that, despite the significant progress and achievements made in AI, it still has limitations. AI can mimic human writing and try to generate original content, but it has yet to grasp the nuances of creative writing and storytelling. Moreover, Brooker’s experience shows that the human touch is vital. While AI can assist in the writing process, it cannot replace the creativity and ingenuity of human writers.
Brooker’s unconventional approach to the new Black Mirror episode, “Beyond The Sea,” is also noteworthy. It shows that creativity does not necessarily arise from following specific rules, but from breaking them. There is a tendency, particularly in creative industries, to follow templates and existing formulas, leading to a lack of originality. Therefore, it takes the courage to be innovative and find inspiration by exploring unconventional pathways, as Brooker has done in “Beyond The Sea”. It is an approach that can produce exceptional results.
Advice
Brooker’s experience with ChatGPT further underscores the importance of human involvement in AI projects. Companies should recognize that while AI can automate specific tasks and processes, it is only as useful as the humans who program and use it. Therefore, human oversight is necessary, particularly in creative collaborations, to ensure that AI generates appealing and imaginative content.
Creatives should take Brooker’s approach in being unafraid to try new things boldly. While templates and formulas can serve as a guide, daring to take a new direction and explore unconventional pathways can spark an idea that leads to a masterpiece.
<< photo by Christina Morillo >>
