Netflix, the streaming giant, has posted a job listing for an artificial intelligence product manager that offers a salary of up to $900,000 per year. The job is part of the company’s machine learning platform team, which is responsible for developing the algorithm that helps viewers choose what to watch next. The job listing has sparked outrage from Hollywood actors and writers who are currently on strike over fair compensation and protection from the threat of AI.
AI and Hollywood: A Contentious Relationship
Artificial intelligence has been a major point of contention in the negotiations between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the Screen Actors Guild (Sag-Aftra) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA). The unions are demanding more transparency and control over how AI is used to create and distribute content, as well as higher residuals and royalties for their work. They are also concerned about the potential impact of AI on their jobs and creative rights.
The unions have been on strike since May and July respectively, causing a disruption in the production and release of movies and TV shows. The strike is the first joint action by the actors and writers since 1960, and it threatens to bring Hollywood to a standstill.
Netflix is not the only company that is investing in AI for its content creation and delivery. Disney, Amazon, and other studios have also listed several machine learning-related positions, though they have not specified the salary range. AI can be used to generate text, images, and video from input data, which can be used to create original content or for advertising purposes. For example, Netflix has used AI to produce a Spanish reality dating series called Deep Fake Love, in which contestants’ faces and bodies are scanned and manipulated to create simulations of themselves. Netflix’s gaming department has also used AI to produce narratives and dialogue for its interactive games.
Netflix’s AI Job: A Lucrative Offer
The AI product manager position at Netflix is a new role that requires a bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related field, as well as at least five years of experience in machine learning or data science. The job description states that the candidate will be responsible for “increasing the leverage of our machine learning platform”, which is “the foundation for all of this innovation”. The candidate will also work with engineers, researchers, and product managers across different teams to “define and execute on a vision for how machine learning can power Netflix’s growth”.
The job listing does not specify the exact salary range, but it provides an estimate based on data from Glassdoor, a website that collects salary information from employees. According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for an AI product manager at Netflix is $300,000 per year, with a possible range of $200,000 to $400,000. However, the total compensation, which includes bonuses and stock grants, can reach up to $900,000 per year. This is much higher than the average total compensation for an AI product manager in the US, which is about $180,000 per year.
The high salary offer has drawn criticism from some Hollywood workers who are striking for better pay and conditions. According to Sag-Aftra, 87% of its actors make less than $26,000 per year. The union has accused Netflix and other studios of using AI to replace human talent and reduce their costs. “This is not about innovation or creativity. This is about greed and exploitation,” said Gabrielle Carteris, the president of Sag-Aftra.
Netflix’s Response: A Commitment to Quality
Netflix has defended its use of AI and its salary offer for the AI product manager position. The company said that it is committed to producing high-quality content that appeals to its diverse and global audience. The company also said that it values its relationship with its creative partners and respects their rights.
“AI is not a substitute for human creativity. It is a tool that enhances our ability to tell stories that resonate with our members,” said Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO and chief content officer of Netflix. “We are always looking for talented people who can help us achieve our vision. Our compensation reflects our appreciation for their skills and contributions.”
Netflix also said that it supports a fair resolution of the strike and hopes to resume working with the unions soon. The company said that it has already agreed to some of the unions’ demands, such as increasing residuals for streaming content and providing more information about how AI is used in its projects.
“We believe that there is room for both human and artificial intelligence in Hollywood. We want to collaborate with our creative partners to create amazing entertainment that delights our members,” said Sarandos.
