The Daily – The Writers’ Revolt Against A.I. Companies

Intro

In this episode of “The Daily,” the focus is on the growing rebellion against AI companies that are using the work of authors, poets, comedians, and actors without their consent. The clash is between those excited about AI capabilities and those who are concerned about the implications. This episode explores the concerns of creative professionals, hobbyists, and fanfiction writers, as well as the legal battles and potential solutions surrounding this issue.

Main Takeaways

Concerns of Creative Professionals

• New AI platforms like ChatGPT can mimic the comedic style of Sarah Silverman and other creatives without their permission.
• Creative professionals, including actors, animators, and writers, are alarmed that AI can produce art or write in their style, potentially threatening their livelihoods.
• There is a concern about the amount of content AI machines crawl and collect from the internet without asking for permission, making it difficult to determine the origin of the AI’s output.
• Legal action has been taken by authors, including Sarah Silverman, against AI companies for illegally using their work.
• Legal experts are hopeful that copyright protection will be established for creative professionals, leading to monetary damages being awarded.

Concerns of Hobbyists and Fanfiction Writers

• Hobbyists and fanfiction writers who create content for fun are also concerned about their work being fed into AI machines without their consent.
• AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, are ingesting fanfic content, including specific character names and sexual tropes, which offends fanfiction writers.
• Fanfiction writers feel helpless and are exploring ways to protect their work, such as feeding nonsense into AI systems and making their content private.
• The better solution for writers would be for the US government to regulate AI platforms, ensuring they pay for uploaded work.
• The interests of AI platforms may be prioritized over creators, as the government is slow to regulate due to a lack of understanding and a desire to compete in the AI race.

Legal Battles and Potential Solutions

• Creatives with copyright can file lawsuits against AI companies for illegally scraping and uploading their work.
• While legal action may lead to monetary damages, once data is uploaded into AI systems, it cannot be retrieved.
• News publishers are exploring the possibility of charging AI companies for their data, but agreements will take time.
• The morality of AI robots depends on how corporations use the data, raising concerns about the replication of souls and the use of data without consent.
• The usefulness of AI platforms may outweigh these concerns, as seen with previous instances of data collection by Facebook and Google.

Summary

Concerns of Creative Professionals

The podcast highlights the concerns of creative professionals, such as actors, animators, and writers, who fear that AI platforms like ChatGPT can mimic their style without permission. This threatens their livelihoods and raises questions about the origin of AI-generated content. Legal action has been taken by authors like Sarah Silverman, and there is hope for copyright protection and monetary damages for creative professionals.

Concerns of Hobbyists and Fanfiction Writers

Hobbyists and fanfiction writers, who create content for fun, are also worried about their work being used by AI platforms without consent. The podcast highlights the offense felt by fanfiction writers when AI systems ingest their content, including specific character names and sexual tropes. Fanfiction writers are exploring ways to protect their work, such as feeding nonsense into AI systems and making their content private. They suggest that the US government should regulate AI platforms and require payment for uploaded work.

Legal Battles and Potential Solutions

The podcast discusses the legal battles faced by creatives with copyright, who can file lawsuits against AI companies for illegally scraping and uploading their work. However, once data is uploaded into AI systems, it cannot be retrieved, even if monetary damages are awarded. News publishers are exploring the possibility of charging AI companies for their data, but reaching agreements will take time. The morality of AI robots depends on how corporations use the data, raising concerns about privacy and consent.

Conclusion

The clash between AI companies and creatives highlights the ongoing debate about the use of content without consent. While legal battles are being fought, there is a need for regulations to protect the rights of creators. The podcast emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between the potential benefits of AI platforms and the ethical considerations surrounding data usage.