The AI debate has reignited after the new documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 landed on Netflix, showing the Duffer brothers writing the script while having ChatGPT tabs open.
Stranger Things fans had a hard time accepting the end of the Netflix series – so much so that a theory dubbed “Conformity Gate” had a corner of the internet convinced that a “secret” Season 5 finale was on the cards (side note: it’s not).
Instead, we were given a behind the scenes look at the making of the fifth and final season in the new documentary, with revelations such as why Demogorgons were missing in the finale and the Duffer brothers’ dispute over Eleven’s fate.
But an altogether different moment has been spotlighted this week, sparking questions and a debate about whether OpenAI’s ChaptGPT was used in the writing process.
Did the Duffer brothers use ChatGPT?
There’s no confirmation that Matt and Ross Duffer used AI to help write Stranger Things. While multiple ChatGPT tabs are visible on their laptops in One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, the footage alone doesn’t indicate how (or even if) the tool was used in the writing process.
Ultimately, all that the screenshots confirm is that ChatGPT was open during writing sessions. That could mean anything from looking up quick information or brainstorming prompts to asking general questions, rather than generating dialogue or storylines.
It first shows up during a discussion about the scale of Season 5, when Matt Duffer says, “The show is so large and there’s so many pages to shoot that Ross and I can simply not direct the whole thing.”
An open script is being edited in real-time by the Duffers, before cutting to another laptop screen, with what looks like the OpenAI logo. Later on, the documentary hones in on the finale, with Matt admitting, “We were getting hammered constantly by production and by Netflix for Episode 8.”
Ross Duffer adds, “It was the most difficult writing circumstances we’ve ever found ourselves in. Not just because there was the pressure of we had to make sure the script was good, but there’s never been so much noise at the same time.
“It was the longest time we’ve ever spent with the writers on a single episode, just breaking it down beat by beat, pushing that thing to get as good as it could.”
During this segment, one of the brothers’ laptop screens is shown, and again it has a tab open that appears to be ChatGPT. But without direct comment from the Duffers or Netflix, there’s no evidence that AI played a creative role in the making of Stranger Things Season 5.
That hasn’t stopped fans from speculating, with the discovery doing the rounds this week when Stranger Things Memes shared a screenshot of the laptop on X, highlighting the fact that there’s a Reddit tab open.
This in itself generated a lively discussion, but soon enough netizens noticed the ChatGPT logo. “Also ChatGPT in another picture of their screens,” wrote one, while another said, “Duffer Brothers really used ChatGPT for this script? WTF.”
A third added, “I’m not sure I’d say Reddit is the thing to worry about here.”
Stranger Things Season 5 viewers debate AI
The screenshot was also shared on Reddit, where one commentator wrote, “The Duffers were seen opening ChatGPT tabs while writing their script in the documentary.”
Another said in response, “I cannot for the life of me understand this sudden and enthusiastic desire by people to insert AI into nearly every part of their work and life.
“Jesus if you are a writer, don’t you take pride in the work you do? Why would you let a moronic glorified chatbot into the thing you are skilled at, and valued for.”
A third added, “The Season 5 final product is close enough to seeming like AI that this kinda tips the scales for me…”
But others are giving the Duffer brothers the benefit of the doubt, pointing out that this isn’t proof that AI was used in the creative process.
“Just a reminder – this is not conclusive evidence that they used ChatGPT to write the script,” said one. “But it’s definitely not a good look on them…”
Another commented, “We have to [use AI] at my job or else you’d be fired. I have to admit it helps with a lot of tedium. If I was the Duffers I’d at least bounce my completed script off it to catch anything obvious like the Demogorgans missing lol.”
“This doesn’t prove they were using ChatGPT to write their script. Correlation does not equal causation. I use ChatGPT for all types of random stuff at work, and most of it is not work related,” added a third.
“But this sub has it out for the Duffers, so I fully expect people to assume this means they were writing the script using ChatGPT.”
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