'Stranger Things' creators Duffer Brothers accused of using ChatGPT to script finale; fans spot AI tabs in documentary

The creator duo of 'Stranger Things', Matt and Ross Duffer, have come under the scanner after screenshots from their new documentary have gone viral.

The brothers were hit will allegations that they turned to AI tools to help script the finale that left fans majorly disappointed. Following the release of the documentary, 'The Making of Stranger Things 5', an interesting detail of tabs open on a laptop screen, has given way to rumours that the makers have used ChatGPT to scrip the finale.

'Stranger Things' finale written with ChatGPT?

The documentary was released weeks after the series finale on New Year's eve. It was posted online with the description, "An inside look at the years of effort and craft that went into the final instalment of the Duffer Brothers' generation-defining series."

However, after a scene featuring the scripting process was analysed, fans claimed to spot ChatGPT tabs open on the browser where the team appeared to be working on the script. Besides having the AI tab open, others pointed at the Reddit and Google Docs open on a screen in the background of a writers’ room, suggesting that the platforms became means of research for the show.

ChatGPT tab in 'Stranger Things' Documentary goes viral

Others expressed dissatisfaction with the finale saying, “I don't know whether they used AI or not, but one thing I know for sure is that the ending was very average for the Stranger Things finale. It could have been way better.” Another tweet read, “AI will make a larger impact on the entertainment and content creation industry than we can imagine.”



While there has been no confirmation that AI tools were used to write any part of the script, the screenshots have created quite the uproar online. Social media platforms were quickly flooded with angry fan reactions. One user wrote, “So you’re telling me they filmed the first episode of Stranger Things season 5 without even having the ending complete or written… no wonder it felt so rushed and the use of AI is so crazy to me, big disappointment.” Another commented, “When you watch the Stranger Things documentary and you learn the Duffer Brothers didn’t write the script, they let ChatGPT write it.”

Fans react

There is no verification or confirmation that ChatGPT or any other AI system was used to write the final season of 'Stranger Things'.

Duffer Brothers on facing negative fan reactions

Ahead of the final season premiere, speaking to Pop Culture, Matt spoke about facing negative fan reactions online. He shared, 'I've gotten off social media so that I don't know what is going on any more because I get my feelings hurt. But, I think I have probably read every single negative comment you could read about the show. But it's okay because I think it's outweighed by the positive comments.

He went on to add, "But, this is why i got off it. You read the negative comments and then you scroll to look for a positive comment to feel better about yourself and then you run into another negative comment."