Artists Protest Christie’s Auction of AI-Generated Art
More than 3,000 artists have written to protest against plans by Christie’s to auction art created using artificial intelligence (AI) models.
In a letter to the auction house, the artists expressed "serious concern" that many of the artworks being sold were created using AI models that were known to be trained on copyrighted work without a licence.
The Concerns
The artists are worried that many popular AI models do not pay for copyrighted materials, which can be used to train AI models that can replicate or even replace the original work. "These models, and the companies behind them, exploit human artists, using their work without permission or payment to build commercial AI products that compete with them," the letter said. "Your support of these models, and the people who use them, rewards and further incentivises AI companies’ mass theft of human artists’ work."
Christie’s Response
Christie’s inaugural AI art auction, called Augmented Intelligence, claims to be the first artificial intelligence-dedicated sale at a major auction house featuring works by artists using AI models. The auction will take place in New York. In response to the letter, Christie’s said that "the artists represented in this sale all have strong, existing multidisciplinary art practices, some recognised in leading museum collections. The works in this auction are using artificial intelligence to enhance their bodies of work."
The Debate
The auction highlights the complex debate in the creative industry over AI, with artists divided about the use of AI and whether the technology will become a key tool in the creative process. Some have supported the sale, with others creating pieces of digital art using the words and images from the petition.
UK Government Consultation
The argument over technology and art is the latest flashpoint ahead of the conclusion of a consultation into AI and creative industries by the UK government. Under the proposals, the UK government would offer an exemption to copyright laws, letting technology companies use material ranging from music and books to media and photos to train AI models unless the rights holder objects under a "rights reservation" system.
Conclusion
The debate over AI-generated art is a complex one, with some artists embracing the technology and others fearing that it will replace human creativity. The UK government’s proposals have raised concerns among companies in the music, film, art, and media industries, who worry that the "opt out" system could be costly and difficult to police.
FAQs
- What is the purpose of the letter to Christie’s?
The letter is to protest against Christie’s plans to auction art created using artificial intelligence (AI) models, citing concerns that many of these artworks were trained on copyrighted work without a licence. - What are the concerns about AI models?
The artists are worried that many popular AI models do not pay for copyrighted materials, which can be used to train AI models that can replicate or even replace the original work. - How has Christie’s responded to the letter?
Christie’s has stated that the artists represented in the sale all have strong, existing multidisciplinary art practices, and that the works in the auction are using artificial intelligence to enhance their bodies of work. - What is the UK government’s proposal regarding AI and creative industries?
The UK government is proposing an exemption to copyright laws, allowing technology companies to use material ranging from music and books to media and photos to train AI models unless the rights holder objects under a "rights reservation" system.
