From scriptor to promptor: an evaluation of the status of authorship, authenticity, and creativity in light of the use of artificial intelligence in screenwriting

The disruptive potential of generative artificial intelligence in creative fields is clear, but how this will unfold remains uncertain. A key concern is that the problematic distinction between the original and the fake is going to become further blurred. In this study, we draw on a number of philosophical theories on the nature of language to set up a conceptual framework within which one can analyze the status of authorship and originality in the operation of generative AI. We argue that two conceptual orientations, namely deconstruction and genealogy, converge on the claim that authorship should be seen as always already a co-authorship. We use this conceptual framework to interpret the results of a classroom experiment with generative AI in producing screenplay loglines and synopses. Our findings suggest that we must improve students' critical skills to foster responsible self-expression in creative production, thereby unlocking the potential of human – AI interaction.