A central London cinema has canceled a screening of a film written entirely using artificial intelligence (AI) after a public backlash. The Prince Charles Cinema in Soho was to host its world premiere The Last Screenwritercreated by ChatGPT, on Sunday.

However, when concerns were raised from the public about “the use of artificial intelligence in the place of an author”, the cinema announced that the screening was being cancelled. In a statement shared on Instagram, it said the response from its customers “speaks to a broader issue within the industry.” The film was created by Peter Luisi and has been released as the “first feature film written entirely by AI».

It follows a famous screenwriter named Jack, whose world is rocked when he finds a sophisticated artificial intelligence screenwriting system.

After initially being skeptical, Jack realizes that the artificial intelligence matches his skills and surpasses his own empathy and understanding of human emotions.

The people behind the film’s production said they “wanted to find out if AI is capable of writing an entire feature film and how good that film would be if it was produced by a professional team.”

In a statement, the Prince Charles Cinema said the film was an ‘experiment in filmmaking’ by a director who hopes to engage in the conversation about artificial intelligence and its negative impact on the arts.

It explained that the show was subsequently canceled after comments “highlighted the strong concern many of our audience have about using artificial intelligence in the place of an author”.

“Our decision is rooted in our passion for movies and listening to those who support what we do,” the filmmaker added.

The use of artificial intelligence emerged as a central point of contention in the US actors’ union Sag-Aftra strike last year, which brought much of Hollywood to a standstill.

It remains a major concern for many in the entertainment industry, with programs such as ChatGPT relying heavily on copyrighted material for their development.

The issue has now reached within the UK government, with MPs calling for interventions to ensure artists are fairly compensated when their work is used by AI developers.