Netflix Series “Black Mirror” Creator Used ChatGPT to Write an Episode
In Brief
Charlie Brooker, the creator of Netflix’s “Black Mirror,” experimented with using ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot, to write an episode of the series. However, the output was deemed to be of poor quality, lacking originality and consisting mashed-up synopses from previous episodes.
Brooker discovered clichés present in his own previous work through this experiment, helping him identify areas for improvement.
Black Mirror, the acclaimed anthology series on Netflix, has gained widespread recognition for its exploration of digital dystopia, consistently highlighting the unintended and negative consequences of cutting-edge technology in modern society. Given the recent concerns surrounding the development of artificial intelligence and its potential repercussions, it’s natural to wonder about the perspective of Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker on AI-powered tool like ChatGPT.
Brooker decided to challenge ChatGPT to write an episode of Black Mirror. In an interview with Empire magazine, he revealed that the resulting output was “shit.” Instead of a thought-provoking and dystopian narrative, the AI-generated content amounted to a mishmash of previous Black Mirror synopses.
“I’ve toyed around with ChatGPT a bit. The first thing I did was type ‘generate Black Mirror episode’ and it comes up with something that, at first glance, reads plausibly, but on second glance, is shit. Because all it’s done is look up all the synopses of Black Mirror episodes, and sort of mush them together. Then if you dig a bit more deeply you go, ‘Oh, there’s not actually any real original thought here.’ It’s [1970s impressionist] Mike Yarwood — there’s a topical reference,”
Brooker told Empire.
Nonetheless, the experiment served a purpose as it helped Brooker identify certain clichés present in his previous work. He said, “I was aware that I had written lots of episodes where someone goes, ‘Oh, I was inside a computer the whole time!’”
In the realm of AI-generated content, ChatGPT’s underwhelming attempt at crafting a Black Mirror episode highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the role of technology in creative industries. While artificial intelligence has shown promise in various domains, it still has a long way to go before it can truly replicate the creativity and storytelling abilities of human creators.
Netflix will debut the sixth season of “Black Mirror” on June 15.
In March 2023, the creators of South Park boldly used ChatGPT to contribute to an episode titled “Deep Learning.” The storyline humorously depicts South Park Elementary students discovering a technology capable of writing their homework, satirizing the widespread hype surrounding AI. The episode credits attribute the writing to both Trey Parker and ChatGPT, accompanied by an acknowledgment that Play.ht’s AI-powered text-to-voice generator provided the voice of ChatGPT.
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About The Author
Agne is a journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the metaverse, AI, and Web3 industries for the Metaverse Post. Her passion for storytelling has led her to conduct numerous interviews with experts in these fields, always seeking to uncover exciting and engaging stories. Agne holds a Bachelor’s degree in literature and has an extensive background in writing about a wide range of topics including travel, art, and culture. She has also volunteered as an editor for the animal rights organization, where she helped raise awareness about animal welfare issues. Contact her on [email protected].
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Agne is a journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the metaverse, AI, and Web3 industries for the Metaverse Post. Her passion for storytelling has led her to conduct numerous interviews with experts in these fields, always seeking to uncover exciting and engaging stories. Agne holds a Bachelor’s degree in literature and has an extensive background in writing about a wide range of topics including travel, art, and culture. She has also volunteered as an editor for the animal rights organization, where she helped raise awareness about animal welfare issues. Contact her on [email protected].
