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“Country Singers, Novelists, & Voice Actors Beg for Government Relief from AI Threat”
Country singers, romance novelists, video game artists, and voice actors are appealing to the U.S. government for relief from the threat of artificial intelligence. A podcaster wrote, “Please regulate AI. I’m scared,” voicing concerns about his voice being replicated. Technology companies, however, are content with the current status quo that allows them to use published works to improve their AI systems. Shira Perlmutter, the U.S. register of copyrights, emphasized that her office is carefully considering both perspectives to determine whether copyright reforms are needed for generative AI tools.
“What’s at Stake?”
As the director of the U.S. Copyright Office, Shira Perlmutter is considering whether human authors should be credited when their works are fed into AI systems. The Copyright Office is also grappling with the issue of copyrighted human works being used without permission or compensation to train AI systems.
“What are Artists Saying?”
Celebrities, including “Family Ties” actor Justine Bateman and television showrunner Lilla Zuckerman, have expressed concern about AI models ingesting decades of creative content, which could drastically affect the entertainment industry. Songwriter Marc Beeson also highlighted the potential threat AI poses to the music industry. Their concerns were echoed by major music publishers and author groups.
“Is it Fair Use?”
Leading tech companies argue that their training of AI models falls under the “fair use” doctrine. Courts have typically sided with tech companies, using precedent from cases involving Google’s use of copyrighted materials. However, bestselling author Heidi Bond argues that this is not a fair comparison, as AI developers are obtaining works through “outright piracy.”
In conclusion, the ethical and legal implications of AI pose a significant challenge for copyright laws. The U.S. Copyright Office’s decision, in light of the thousands of comments received from concerned individuals and industries, will shape the future regulation of AI and creative content. The outcome of these deliberations will undoubtedly have far-reaching effects on the intersection of technological advancement and artistic expression.
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