One Last Ride: The Making of Stranger Things 5 hit Netflix earlier this week, and since it is clear that there is no secret ninth episode to come – as the strong speculation of the Internet had suggested – disappointed fans turned to looking at this document for answers, clarity and fuel to speculate more. Also, “Gateway for Consensus” can backfire, because “Gateway for ConversationGPT” is the new hot topic.
The controversy comes because eagle-eyed viewers have seen what appear to be ChatGPT tabs appearing on a computer used by one of the Duffer Brothers. As part of One last adventurebehind-the-scenes access, viewers see what it was like to Stranger Things The writers’ room as a team, including the Duffers, is scrambling to finish the script for the eighth episode, “The Rightside Up,” under pressure from Netflix and the show’s production team.
Talking to One last adventure director Martina Radwan, The Hollywood Reporter specifically asked if she had ever seen artificial intelligence being used by the show’s writers. His first response: “I mean, are we sure they had ChatGPT turned on?”
Then he added, “Well, there’s a lot of discussion there [social media users] it’s like, ‘We don’t really know, but we’re thinking.’ But to me it’s like, doesn’t everyone have it open, to do a quick survey?”
(The answer is nobut we’re going out.)
However, there is a difference between “researching” and “writing a text,” Radwan pointed out. “How can you write a 19 character essay and use ChatGPT, I don’t even understand.”
He continued. “And, first of all, no one has proven that it’s open. That’s like having your iPhone next to your computer while you’re writing an essay. We just use these tools … while doing a lot of things. So there’s a lot going on all the time, all the time. What I find sad is that everyone loves this game, and all of a sudden we need to take it apart.”
Radwan—who spent an entire year participating Stranger Things-confirmed that he has never seen the generated AI being misused by the show’s writers.
“No, not really. I’ve seen an intellectual exchange. I’ve seen a conversation. People think a ‘writer’s room’ means people sitting there writing. No, an artistic exchange. The development of stories,” he said, “and, of course, you go places in your creative mind and come back. [to the script]. I think being in the writers’ room is a great privilege and a gift to be able to witness that.”
Radwan also talked about a few other eyebrow-raising scenes from which they were shot One last adventure and I responded to “The Gate of Harmony,” so head over to THR to read the entire piece.
io9 has reached out to Netflix for comment or clarification on whether or not those are indeed ChatGPT viewers in the documentary, as well as allegations that generative AI was used as part of the show. Stranger Things writing process. We will update this post when we hear back.
Looking for more io9 news? Check out when you can expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe in film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
