Artists Unite Against Unlicensed Use of Their Work by AI Companies

International Artists Challenge AI Companies

Many international stars, including British author Sir Ian Rankin and Thom Yorke, the lead singer of Radiohead, are speaking out against artificial intelligence (AI) companies. They have joined thousands of artists around the world in signing a statement that demands an end to the unlicensed use of their work.

This statement has gathered support from notable figures such as Bjorn Ulvaeus from ABBA, actor Kevin Bacon, and the Nobel Prize-winning author Sir Kazuo Ishiguro. The artists argue that using their creative works without permission violates copyright laws and poses a significant threat to their livelihoods.

The statement reflects growing worries within the creative industries, as many artists feel that their work is being used to train AI models like ChatGPT without any compensation.

Concerns About AI and Copyright

The letter clearly states: ‘The unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works and must not be permitted.’

Composer Ed Newton-Rex, who organized the statement, told media that people from fields like music, literature, film, and theater are increasingly anxious about how their work is used. He highlighted that major resources required by AI companies include extensive data from creative sources.

These companies spend large amounts on hiring skilled people and advanced computing systems, yet they often expect to access training data for free. Newton-Rex emphasized that this dehumanizes the creative process, reducing artists' work to mere data.

The UK government is reportedly considering an 'opt-out' proposal, allowing AI companies to collect content from artists unless they specifically deny permission. However, Newton-Rex believes that even well-structured opt-out systems can easily overlook many creators.

Other supporters of the statement include significant organizations like the European Writers’ Council and the American Federation of Musicians. In the United States, prominent authors, including John Grisham and George R.R. Martin, are currently suing OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, over claims of copyright infringement.

Record labels such as Universal Music, Sony Music, and Warner Records are also taking legal action against AI music creators like Suno and Udio.

artists, AI, copyright