Fighting Back Against Gen AI
The first thing is that the lawsuits have stuck around, despite AI companies’ protestations that they should be thrown out. Many legal cases are ongoing, and the outcome of these will determine what material can be used to train AI models, and under what conditions.
Current Lawsuits
Most of the cases allege that use of a plaintiff’s material without their consent constitutes copyright infringement. The AI companies argue that their actions fall within the “fair use” exception to the law.
Progress in the US and Europe
In the US, a group of artists has filed a lawsuit against several companies for their use of Stable Diffusion. In the UK, one notable case is Getty Images v Stability AI.
Lobbying and EU Regulations
The European Guild for Artificial Intelligence Regulation (EGAIR) has been instrumental in achieving victories, including the approval of the EU’s AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive law relating to AI.
EU AI Act Requirements
The Act requires AI companies to:
- label AI-generated content as such
- provide a publicly available summary of the data used to train models
Progress and Challenges
Francesco Archidiacono, founder of EGAIR, reflects on the progress made over the last two years:
He notes that:
- Politicians and institutions are now more informed about the issues
- The EU AI Act explicitly states that any use of copyrighted content to train an AI model must be authorized by the rights holder
- Some AI companies are scared of complying with the European Union’s transparency requirements
Informing the Public and the Art Community
Francesco Archidiacono emphasizes the importance of keeping the public and the art community informed about the issues surrounding AI:
Challenges and Opportunities
Francesco notes that:
- There is still a lack of awareness about the issues among the public and the art community
- There is a need for better education and resources to inform people about their rights and the impact of AI on the creative community
- There is a growing sense of distaste for AI-generated material, which is increasing the value of human-made work
Conclusion
The fight against unethical AI is ongoing, with lawsuits, lobbying, and education efforts underway. While there have been significant progress made, there is still much work to be done to ensure that artists’ rights are protected and that AI is used in a way that benefits society as a whole.
FAQs
Q: What are the key issues surrounding AI and artistic rights?
A: The key issues include copyright infringement, lack of consent, and the use of AI-generated content without proper attribution.
Q: What is the EU AI Act?
A: The EU AI Act is the world’s first comprehensive law relating to AI, requiring companies to obtain consent from rights holders, label AI-generated content, and provide a publicly available summary of the data used to train models.
Q: What can artists do to protect their rights?
A: Artists can opt out of AI training, inform themselves about their rights, and call out companies and individuals who use unethical generative AI.
Q: What is the role of organizations like EGAIR?
A: Organizations like EGAIR lobby governments and lawmakers to advocate for the rights of creators and push for regulations that protect artistic rights in the era of AI.
Q: What is the impact of AI on the creative community?
A: AI has the potential to both harm and benefit the creative community, depending on how it is used. While it can facilitate creativity and productivity, it can also lead to copyright infringement and the devaluation of human-made work.
