“That’s a clumsy thing to say in an industry where he’s got writers and artists, and it specifically affects people; they’re the first to take the blow,” Davies said to The Independent. The Queer As Folk creator also said that Brittin “hasn’t worked in television for that long” and that he “might not be so fruity with an opinion in future.” “My inbox went ping ping ping ping ping, so God knows what his was like,” he said. Brittin became the BBC’s Director-General in March.
Indeed, Brittin’s AI comments have created a stir within the BBC, with some insiders sharing their fear and disbelief that their new boss would be so open to anti-creative work. Earlier this month, Deadline reported concerns raised during a staff town hall, where employees expressed resistance to a future at the broadcaster in which AI-generated content might become the norm. “Is it not time for the BBC to fully reject generative AI?” one commenter wrote. “I think Matt’s comments about AI Dr Who and news presenters haven’t been helpful. We’re not a content machine like Netflix and should surely focus on doing things better (not just faster).”
Davies, who says he doesn’t use the technology in his own work, is similarly concerned about generative AI’s use in creative circles. “I have heard stories of some writers using AI prompts to do a first draft, which I find shocking because I think… What are you paid for otherwise? What are you there to do?” This nervousness among creatives comes at a time when the future of Doctor Who remains in stasis, with some no doubt worried that the beloved franchise could wind up in the clutches of a pro-AI showrunner. As some within the BBC hold their breath, Davies told The Independent that Who‘s new future should arrive soon. “You’ll start to see production with a brand-new doctor, a brand-new companion, summer next year.”
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