Aaron Sorkin Argues AI Couldn’t Write ‘The West Wing’

The noted screenwriter weighs in on generative AI.

The Hollywood Reporter quotes Aaron Sorkin at a recent Adobe Summit 2023 event on his thoughts about generative AI.

“No. I don’t [think AI could write The West Wing] because — here’s what I assume has happened,” The Newsroom creator said. “Whether it’s that — there’s roughly the same kind of software for writing a hit song — I assume that they have loaded into a machine a zillion very successful screenplays, whether they’re thrillers or Westerns or romantic comedies. And a computer can then turn out something similar, but a computer didn’t write those screenplays that are being fed into the machine in the first place. And I think you’re going to enjoy things done by humans more.”

The article notes that generative AI is on the minds of Hollywood writers.

Recently, it’s been at the center of the Writers Guild of America’s contract negotiations with studios and streamers as it pushes to prohibit AI from being used as source material, as well as AI-written works and AI-rewritten works from being covered under its contract. The union also wants to prevent writing created by AI from being considered for credits.

Sounds like a challenge to me. I went to ChatGPT and gave it this prompt:

Please write a monologue Aaron Sorkin style for the character President of the United States Josiah Bartlet as he confronts a moral crisis: Reveal incriminating evidence against a rival politician or not.

Here is what ChatGPT generated:

(Setting: The Oval Office. President Josiah Bartlet is sitting behind his desk, looking pensive. His Chief of Staff, Leo McGarry, enters.)

LEO: Sir, we need to talk.

BARTLET: (Looking up) Leo, what’s going on?

LEO: The team’s put together a file on Senator Randall. We’ve got evidence of some pretty serious wrongdoing.

BARTLET: (Sighing) I was afraid this was coming. I knew there was something off about that guy.

LEO: We’ve got enough to take him down, sir. But it’s going to get messy.

BARTLET: (Rubbing his forehead) Damn it, Leo. Why does it always have to be messy?

LEO: (Shrugs) That’s politics, sir.

BARTLET: (Shaking his head) No. No, it shouldn’t be. We’re supposed to be better than this. We’re supposed to be fighting for the people, not for our own gain.

LEO: (Nods) I know, sir. But sometimes we have to make tough decisions.

BARTLET: (Sighs) I don’t want to do this, Leo. I don’t want to play dirty like they do.

LEO: (Sits down across from Bartlet) Sir, I know this is difficult. But if we don’t do this, if we don’t expose Senator Randall for who he really is, he’s going to keep doing what he’s doing. He’s going to keep hurting people.

BARTLET: (Pauses, looking conflicted) I just…I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if I can be the one to ruin a man’s career.

LEO: (Softly) You’re not ruining his career, sir. He did that himself. You’re just shining a light on it.

BARTLET: (Looks up at Leo) What if it backfires? What if people start to question our motives? What if we lose support?

LEO: (Sternly) We can’t think about that, sir. We have to do what’s right, no matter the cost. And if we lose support, so be it. We’ll fight for what’s right anyway.

BARTLET: (Nods slowly) You’re right, Leo. We have to do what’s right. Even if it’s hard. Even if it’s messy.

LEO: (Smiles) That’s the spirit, sir.

BARTLET: (Stands up, looking determined) Alright then. Let’s do this. Let’s show the American people what Senator Randall is really made of.

LEO: (Stands up as well) Yes, sir. We’ll get to work.

BARTLET: (Walking to the door) And Leo?

LEO: (Following him) Yes, sir?

BARTLET: (Turns around, looking serious) Let’s make sure we do this the right way. No underhanded tactics. No dirty tricks. Just the truth.

LEO: (Nods) Agreed, sir. We’ll do this the right way.

Doesn’t quite have that Sorkin flair, now does it?

For the rest of the Hollywood Reporter article, go here.