AI Theft Crisis: Artists Fight Back 🎨🔥

AI

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Artists Unite Against AI “Theft” – A Massive Protest Takes Shape
Around 800 artists, writers, actors, and musicians have joined a new campaign protesting what they describe as “theft at a grand scale” perpetrated by AI companies. The campaign, titled “Stealing Isn’t Innovation,” has garnered signatures from prominent figures such as authors George Saunders and Jodi Picoult, actors Cate Blanchett and Scarlett Johansson, and musicians including R.E.M., Billy Corgan, and The Roots. According to a press release, the initiative is fueled by fierce competition among technology companies – including some of the world’s wealthiest firms and those backed by private equity – to establish dominance in GenAI technology. These companies are alleged to be copying vast amounts of creative content from online sources without obtaining authorization or payment from the original creators.

AI’s Dark Side: The Rise of “AI Slop” and Misinformation
This alleged intellectual property grab, the release states, is fostering an information ecosystem rife with misinformation, deepfakes, and a deluge of low-quality material – often referred to as “AI slop.” Critics warn that this practice risks destabilizing AI models and directly threatens America’s position in the global AI landscape and its international competitiveness.

A Coalition Forms: Key Organizations Join the Fight
The advocacy effort is spearheaded by the Human Artistry Campaign, a coalition encompassing organizations like the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), professional sports players’ unions, and performers’ unions such as SAG-AFTRA.

Strategic Campaign Launch: Ads and Social Media
The “Stealing Isn’t Innovation” campaign messages will be disseminated through full-page advertisements in major news outlets and across social media platforms.

Protecting Creative Works: Licensing and Opt-Outs
The campaign is advocating for the implementation of licensing agreements and “a healthy enforcement environment,” alongside the right for artists to opt out of having their work utilized in AI training.

Defensive Measures: Publishers Block AI Content
Work is currently being utilized to train generative AI models, with several AI music startups providing their catalogues for AI remixing and model training. In response to concerns about copyright infringement, digital publishers—including some that have previously sued AI companies—have developed a licensing standard designed to block their content from appearing in AI search results.

Industry Partnerships: Agreements for AI Content Access
Furthermore, individual deals have been signed between some outlets and tech companies, permitting AI chatbots to surface news content.

This article is AI-synthesized from public sources and may not reflect original reporting.