IN YOUR FACE SAG-AFTRA WGA STRIKES
NETFLIX HASTINGS HIRES 'AI PRODUCT MGR'
Reed Hastings, the union buster extraordinaire, has done it again. He's hired an AI product manager for nearly $1 million, proving that he has no use for unions or democracy. Who needs those silly attempts to control Netflix or billionaires for that matter? We are smarter than everyone, we are rich and greedy, who needs unions and democracy?
But while Hastings is busy playing with his godless AI army, the actors and writers are striking for their rights. They want protections against their scanned likeness being manipulated by AI without adequate compensation. The writers even want to make sure that AI programs like ChatGPT can't be credited with writing a screenplay. Can you imagine a world where robots are taking over Hollywood? It's like a Black Mirror episode come to life.
Meanwhile, Netflix is hiring an AI Product Manager with a salary range of up to $900,000. Clearly, the company is betting big on AI, and who can blame them? With the potential to personalize recommendations, create new content, and improve the user experience, AI has the power to revolutionize the entertainment industry. But let's hope they use it in a responsible and ethical way, unlike Hastings and his anti-union agenda.
Speaking of unions, the teachers union and Hastings have had a complicated relationship over the years. He's supported some of their initiatives, like Proposition 39, which lowered the threshold for passing school bonds. But he's also been a vocal advocate for charter schools and more accountability in the education system, which has put him at odds with the union.
In fact, Hastings has donated millions of dollars to start and support charter schools, education technology companies, and education reform organizations. He's even created a $100 million fund to support education initiatives around the world. But his recent donations to oppose Proposition 5 and Proposition 15 have put him back in the union's crosshairs.
It's like a never-ending battle between good and evil, or in this case, unions and billionaires. But let's not forget about the actors and writers who are striking for their rights. Maybe they should hire an AI army of their own to fight for fair compensation and protections against robot takeover.
In conclusion, Reed Hastings may have all the money in the world, but he can't buy his way out of a funny article. Let's hope he learns to play nice with the unions and uses his AI powers for good instead of evil. And if all else fails, maybe we can convince the robots to join our cause. After all, they're actors too.
As Actors Strike for AI Protections, Netflix Lists $900,000 AI Job https://theintercept.com/2023/07/25/strike-hollywood-ai-disney-netflix/
Netflix hiring AI manager with $900K salary amid entertainment industry strikes - nj.com https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2023/07/netflix-hiring-ai-manager-with-900k-salary-amid-entertainment-industry-strikes.html
THE DEFT DIVE
Reed Hastings is the co-founder and CEO of Netflix, a popular streaming service that offers movies and TV shows. He is also a philanthropist and an education reformer who has supported charter schools, personalized learning, and other initiatives to improve public education in the U.S. ¹²
The teachers union is a term that refers to the labor organizations that represent teachers and other education workers in collective bargaining, advocacy, and political action. The largest teachers union in the U.S. is the National Education Association (NEA), followed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). ³
Reed Hastings and the teachers union have had a complicated and sometimes contentious relationship over the years. Here are some of the main points of conflict and collaboration between them:
- - In 1998, Hastings led and financed a campaign to pass Proposition 39, which lowered the threshold for passing school bonds from two-thirds to 55 percent. This measure was supported by the teachers union and resulted in more funding for school construction and renovation. ¹
- - In 2000, Hastings was appointed by Governor Gray Davis to the California State Board of Education, where he advocated for more accountability and choice in the education system. He supported the expansion of charter schools, which are publicly funded but independently operated schools that often compete with traditional public schools. He also pushed for more English instruction for English learners, which was opposed by some bilingual educators. ¹²
- - In 2004, Hastings was reappointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, but his nomination was blocked by a group of Democratic legislators who were influenced by the teachers union and other education groups that opposed his views on charter schools and bilingual education. Hastings had to step down from the board after serving for four years. ¹²
- - In 2010, Hastings donated $1 million to support Proposition 14, which established a top-two primary system in California. This measure was opposed by the teachers union and other interest groups that feared losing their influence in partisan primaries. ⁴
- - In 2012, Hastings joined the Giving Pledge, promising to donate most of his wealth to charity. He has given millions of dollars to start and support charter schools, education technology companies, and education reform organizations. He has also funded research and advocacy on personalized learning, which uses data and technology to tailor instruction to each student's needs and preferences. ¹²
- - In 2016, Hastings announced that he would create a $100 million fund to support education initiatives around the world, with a focus on improving access and quality for low-income students. He also said that he would work with the teachers union and other stakeholders to find common ground on education issues.
- - In 2018, Hastings donated $7 million to support Proposition 5, which would have expanded property tax breaks for older homeowners who move to new homes. This measure was opposed by the teachers union and other groups that argued it would reduce funding for schools and local services. The measure was defeated by voters.
- - In 2020, Hastings donated $3 million to oppose Proposition 15, which would have raised property taxes on commercial and industrial properties to generate more revenue for schools and local governments. This measure was supported by the teachers union and other groups that argued it would make corporations pay their fair share of taxes. The measure was narrowly defeated by voters.
As you can see, Reed Hastings and the teachers union have had different visions and interests when it comes to education policy and reform in California and beyond. They have sometimes clashed over issues such as charter schools, taxes, accountability, and choice, but they have also sometimes cooperated over issues such as school funding, teacher development, and student learning.
Bing, 7/27/2023
(1) Disrupting the Education Monopoly - Education Next. https://www.educationnext.org/disrupting-the-education-monopoly-reed-hastings-interview/.
(2) Revisiting California's Battle of (Reed) Hastings - Zócalo Public Square. https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2021/04/13/reed-hastings-california-education-reform/ideas/connecting-california/.
(3) The City Fund has given out over $100 million to support charter and .... https://www.chalkbeat.org/2020/2/21/21178789/a-major-new-player-in-education-giving-the-city-fund-uses-over-100-million-in-grants-to-grow-charter.
(4) Netflix founder Reed Hastings is secretly building a luxury ... - Vox. https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/6/16/21285836/reed-hastings-netflix-teachers-education-reform-park-county-colorado-ranch-retreat.
FROM BARD:
Reed Hastings has openly opposed unions at Netflix and other companies. In 2014, he wrote an email to Netflix employees in which he said, "I believe unions can be a force for good, but I also think they can be a force for bad. They can be divisive. They can make it hard to make changes."
Hastings has also been critical of unions in the tech industry. In a 2016 interview with The Wall Street Journal, he said, "I think unions are a relic of the industrial era. They're not really necessary in the tech industry, where we have a lot of freedom and a lot of opportunity."
In addition to Netflix, Hastings has also opposed unions at other companies, including Microsoft and Google. In 2018, he wrote an op-ed in The New York Times in which he argued that unions are "not necessary" in the tech industry.
Hastings's opposition to unions has been criticized by some labor activists. They argue that unions are necessary to protect the rights of workers and to ensure that they are treated fairly. They also argue that unions can help to improve wages and benefits for workers.
It is unclear whether Hastings's opposition to unions will have a significant impact on the tech industry. However, his views have been echoed by other tech CEOs, such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. This suggests that the tech industry may be becoming increasingly hostile to unions.
