The creator of 'Black Mirror' believes that the issue with AI technology lies not in the technology itself, but in how it is used.

The TV show "Black Mirror" is often discussed in conversations about artificial intelligence due to its portrayal of how technology negatively affects people's lives.

Charlie Brooker, the creator of the "Black Mirror" series, revealed that he frequently receives soothsaying messages from people who believe he has an early alert system for news stories. However, Brooker clarified that he only exaggerates what he has seen in his work.

Unfortunately, reality caught up as things got worse, just as it often does in the world.

A recent Netflix season included an episode titled "Joan is Awful," starring Salma Hayek and Annie Murphy, in which a woman's life is ruined when her actions are turned into a TV show due to AI-generated content.

The writer's and actor's strikes occurred in June 2023, with a focus on the effects of AI on the entertainment industry.

Brooker said the timing of the episode "was crazy."

"Nevertheless, the sudden surge in public concern about AI as a threat to the creative industries and arts," he stated. "As a result, it was surprising because we were in the post-production phase of the episode at that time, and the coincidence of its release with the strike made it even more gratifying to have addressed the issue."

He found it satisfying if the episode was helping to articulate some of the dangers, problems, and fears in a comically grotesque way.

Hayek and Murphy were already concerned about deepfakes and contemplating their control over their literal image, as noted by him.

Hayek told The Radio Times last year the episode genuinely scared her.

"Just like any powerful tool, it’s what you do with it." — Charlie Brooker

Hayek revealed that there were numerous moments in the script that surprised him, with one particularly significant one causing him to question his desire to continue and the potential consequences of his actions.

In the episode, she portrayed a fictional version of herself, playing the role of the AI-generated show's fake Joan.

"I feel like I have a secret persona that allows me to engage in repulsive, vile actions that I would never consider doing in reality, all while maintaining a sense of approval."

She remarked, 'It's been absurd and a lot of fun. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play an interpretation of myself. I got to explore the concepts and clichés people have about me and be self-deprecating.'

The SAG-AFTRA representative explains why the devastating Hollywood strikes last year were necessary.

Although "Black Mirror" is known for its accurate predictions, Brooker did not intend the show to be a "‘Oh, technology is evil’ narrative."

He explained that he is impressed by the technological tools we create because they are amazing, and phones are no exception. Just like any powerful tool, it's what you do with it.

"AI-generated imagery is both impressive and incredible. It can be used to completely destabilize our society by pumping out terrifying misinformation or simply used as a tool in Photoshop to fill things in. Additionally, it can be used to bounce ideas back and forth or for something innocuous like a list of names for coal miners in the 1930s."

Hollywood should not rely on AI-generated creativity, according to Brooker. He believes that using AI to generate a pitch and then turning it into a show is not effective and could lead to poor quality content, ultimately harming the industry and its workers.

"In essence, the way you utilize technology determines its impact. If anything, it's not a demonstration of the technology's inherent flaws, but rather a reflection of its potential and the humans' ability to innovate."