Are you fearful about the impact that AI could have on society? You're not alone. Workers in Hollywood are on strike, and this has a lot to do with their concerns about being replaced by artificial intelligence. 

In this podcast episode of The Drew Mariani Show, Drew interviews Peter Atkinson, who is in charge of The Merry Beggars, the entertainment division of Relevant Radio. They discuss several key topics:

1. The Writers Strike: They talk about the ongoing strike by the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America against the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers. This strike has disrupted the entertainment industry, affecting talk shows, movie releases, and TV series.

2. Discussion on Residuals and Streaming: They delve into the topic of residuals in the context of streaming services. Unlike traditional broadcasting, streaming platforms don't generate additional revenue through advertising when content is rerun, which affects how actors and writers are compensated.

3. Impact of AI in Hollywood: Peter Atkinson points out that the strike is partly a response to the rise of artificial intelligence in the industry. AI has been used for various purposes, including performance capture, de-aging actors, and even cloning the voices and likenesses of deceased individuals to create content. This shift raises concerns for actors and writers about job security. Peter gives his own opinion about AI and how he doesn't believe it can actually produce excellent content right now. 

4. The Merry Beggars' new audio series: They introduce The Merry Beggars' new audio series called "The Saints: Adventures of Faith and Courage." This weekday series shares dramatic and inspiring stories of saints. It's available through the relevant radio app and on thesaintspodcast.com. Peter assures you that this audio series was not produced with any AI and relied on real voice actors and producers to create the podcast.