UK Tech Secretary Urges Cooperation on AI Copyright Reform
Government weighs 11,000 responses to consultation on future of copyright and AI
UK technology secretary Peter Kyle has urged opponents of a new artificial intelligence copyright regime not to "resist change", as he prepares to rule on proposals that have enraged British musicians and filmmakers.
Background
Thousands of people working in the British creative and media industries have protested against the UK’s proposed system that would require every company, artist or author to opt out of their work being incorporated into AI systems by tech companies.
Government’s Position
Promising the UK’s Labour government will "prioritise… forward movement", Kyle stressed he did not want to set the country’s filmmakers and musicians against technology companies, but said they would "find a way through it".
"Just as in every other time there is change in society, there will be some people who will either resist change or try to make change too difficult to deliver," Kyle told the Financial Times. "That’s why it is important we have a government that will prioritise the forward movement of our society, economy and government itself, so all are fit to seize the opportunities of the future."
Consultation Response
Speaking on the sidelines of US chipmaker Nvidia’s GTC conference in the heart of Silicon Valley last week, Kyle said the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was weighing more than 11,000 responses to its consultation on the future of copyright and AI, and planned to legislate "in due course".
Stakeholders’ Concerns
The copyright changes have become contentious among British media groups, with the co-chair of studio Working Title Films, Eric Fellner, calling them an "existential threat" to the country’s creative industries.
Government’s Plan
Kyle said the UK would "find a way through it and get both sectors facing the future and fit for the digital age, and fit for having the rights and protections and the ability to earn money in the digital age".
Data Centre Plans
The UK government is also planning to establish "AI growth zones" to attract investment for new data centres, with one potential site having close to 2 gigawatts of power available, which would be enough to support hundreds of thousands of the powerful Nvidia chips that tech companies rely upon to build and deploy cutting-edge AI systems.
Conclusion
As the UK government weighs the responses to its consultation on the future of copyright and AI, it is clear that the proposed system has sparked strong reactions from various stakeholders. While some have expressed concerns about the potential impact on the creative industries, others have emphasized the need for a more forward-thinking approach to copyright law in the age of AI. As the government moves forward with its plans, it will be interesting to see how it balances the interests of different stakeholders and ultimately shapes the future of copyright and AI in the UK.
FAQs
Q: What is the UK government’s position on AI copyright reform?
A: The UK government is committed to finding a way forward that balances the interests of different stakeholders, including the creative industries and technology companies.
Q: What is the current state of the consultation on the future of copyright and AI?
A: The consultation has received over 11,000 responses, and the government plans to legislate "in due course".
Q: What are the potential implications of the proposed copyright system for the creative industries?
A: The proposed system could have significant implications for the creative industries, including the need to opt out of work being incorporated into AI systems by tech companies.
