Kazuo Ishiguro, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2017. / Photo provided by Lorna Ishiguro, Minumsa
Around 10,000 cultural and artistic figures worldwide have opposed the use of their works for training generative AI. They argue that turning unique creations into “learning data” violates economic ethics.
On the 22nd (local time), according to foreign media such as the Washington Post and the Guardian, around 10,000 globally renowned cultural and artistic figures, including Nobel Prize-winning Japanese-British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro and Hollywood actress Julianne Moore, signed a statement opposing the use of cultural and art works in AI training.
This statement was spearheaded by Ed Newton-Rex, a composer and representative of the nonprofit “Fairly Trained,” which supports creators against AI companies. So far, 10,500 cultural and artistic figures have signed the statement.
In their statement, they declared, “The unauthorized use of creative works for generative AI training poses a significant and unfair threat to the livelihood of those who created these works and should never be allowed.”
The statement’s online petition includes the names of figures such as writer Ishiguro, actress Moore, Thom Yorke of the British rock band Radiohead, Björn Ulvaeus of Swedish pop group ABBA, and Hollywood actors Kevin Bacon, Melissa Joan Hart, Kate McKinnon, comedian Rosie O’Donnell, and American novelist James Patterson.
The image shows Ed Newton-Rex’s X post leading the announcement of the AI-related statement. / Ed Newton-Rex X capture
Newton-Rex, who led the statement, argued, “We are talking about creations from people in literature, art, and music. Calling these ‘learning data’ by AI companies is inhumane. Placing the burden solely on creators to reject AI learning is completely unfair.”
He suggested that the use of creative works by AI companies must be institutionally blocked and proposed an “opt-in” system, where works are included in AI learning only if the creator wishes, as opposed to an “opt-out” approach, which excludes works only when a creator explicitly states rejection.
In the U.S., several authors have reportedly already filed copyright infringement lawsuits against AI companies like OpenAI, and the cases are ongoing.