AI: Friend or Foe?
On the Blog Graphic containing a silhouette of a human head with a lightbulb inside that has the letters “AI”. The article name, “AI: Friend or Foe?” also appears.
We’re all hearing it. Artificial intelligence is going to take our jobs! They’re going to usurp everything creatives do!
First, don’t stress about this. I don’t think there’s any way generative AI will ever be able to write a fiction book as well as a legit author with a good editor. There are too many nuances. Even when we ask AI to deconstruct a story, there are parts that get mixed up, and things are missed.
Second, there’s a huge lawsuit right now centered on training AI without permission of the creators. Additionally, there’s also litigation centered on the ownership of an AI-assisted IP creation.
Friends, in my opinion, that’s copyright infringement, plain and simple. “Teaching” the AI doesn’t fall under fair use, and derivative works? Nah, I don’t think so. They’ve used the words of these authors and images of artists—and I think voice artists are part of this, too—to teach the AI to produce content JUST LIKE THESE CREATORS. Not cool. At all. I think the plaintiffs will prevail in these suits. At least I’m hoping they will.
Now, does that mean that AI is inherently evil and we should avoid it at all costs? Absolutely not. We have been training AI—many of us unknowingly—for years. Through our browser histories, Internet use habits, and a host of other ways one company or another tracks what we do online.
We have to be smart about the way we use AI and all technology when it comes to creating. Before you use any site for working with your creation, make sure you know the terms of service and what the company does with any data you provide—that includes uploading a manuscript to run various reports.
The U.S. has developed a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights. While this doesn’t specifically address creative endeavors, I’m carefully watching what happens with this, as it deals with information services, automatic assessment, and use of personal information. While President Biden intended this to protect civil rights and democratic values, I see it as a stepping stone to the guide rails we want in place to protect our IP as AI continues to grow and develop new applications.
Here’s a list of several items you’ll want to take into consideration before using that shiny, new thing:
Always read the terms of service when it comes to protecting your intellectual property. Always. Weigh the pros and cons of that (maybe) too-good-to-be-true report on the content of your novel if they’ll use your novel to continue training their AI.
Know what rights you are giving others by simply using a service. Is there a clause that specifically states they get to use your book to train their AI?
Learn how to delete your content from these services before using them.
Understand what a copyright is, and when to get one.
If you like to geek out on actual articles about these types of things, you can read more about generative AI and copyright infringement at Harvard Business Review and Saxton & Stump: Lawyers and Consultants. And here’s an article about whether AI can own intellectual property rights from Mozilla.