Entertainment industry professionals are increasingly taking gig positions with AI training companies to supplement declining work opportunities. These workers, including screenwriters, directors, and producers, are paid to teach artificial intelligence systems how to perform tasks central to filmmaking and television production, such as writing screenplays, developing production schedules, and creating pitch materials. Compensation ranges from $12 to $200 per hour depending on expertise and task complexity.
The trend reflects a significant contraction in Hollywood employment. Shoot days in Los Angeles declined 48% between 2021 and 2025, while nationwide employment in motion picture and sound recording industries dropped 28% from 450,000 positions in July 2022 to 326,000 in May 2026, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Multiple factors have contributed to this downturn, including pandemic aftereffects, labor disputes, and reduced investment from streaming platforms. Some established writers and producers describe the work as contradictory—simultaneously training systems that may eventually displace them from their professions.
AI training companies including Mercor, Micro1, and Handshake have contracts with major artificial intelligence firms like Anthropic and OpenAI. These agencies seek experienced professionals across multiple industries, not just entertainment, to provide detailed feedback on AI performance. Specific tasks have included training systems to transcribe video with overlapping audio, design production schedules accounting for permits and lighting conditions, and assemble executive pitch materials.
Opinions among participating creatives vary considerably. Some express concern about contributing to technology that threatens their livelihoods, while others note limitations in current AI capabilities regarding nuance and emotional depth in creative work. Several professionals noted that while AI excels at generating ideas and straightforward technical tasks, it has not yet demonstrated ability to produce work of highest creative caliber. Some younger filmmakers have begun using AI tools to finance and produce projects that might otherwise lack funding, suggesting potential complementary applications alongside traditional creative work.
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