Australian creatives are speaking up against the misuse of their works in artificial intelligence (AI) development. And finally, they push their government to set overarching ethical and sustainable standards. These standards should defend their rights while opening new doors to the unlimited promise of this momentous AI technology. This call for action comes amid discussions about whether AI developers should be allowed to utilize Australian creators’ work to train their systems.
AI is one of the biggest opportunities we have this decade, both for Australia and the Australian economy,” admits new Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland. She adds that AI development should focus on ensuring Australian creatives get the most value out of the technology. By proposing a middle ground, she is trying to inspire forward-thinking flexibilities while safeguarding creators of original content.
In Australia, right now, several major tech companies are lobbying for a similarly expansive text and data mining exemption to be enshrined in Australian copyright law. This exemption would allow AI developers to use the works of Australian creators without their consent or remuneration. Beyond the nitty gritty details of this policy, it bears profound implications. It would enable developers to indiscriminately mine creative works, sending artists, writers, and other content creators running for the hills.
The Australian creative community is organizing an impressive and unified grassroots resistance against these bad proposals. The complaint against this practice is twofold, they say, first as the practice devalues creativity. This practice puts their livelihoods in danger. Creatives stress the importance of having a good baseline. This framework will ensure they are compensated fairly for their important and valuable contributions to the digital marketplace.
Attorney-General Rowland has now agreed to consider whether the government should give AI developers a general exemption. A final decision on this issue should be forthcoming at any time now. The outcome of this decision could set a precedent for how intellectual property is treated in the age of AI. Australian creatives are already busy calling for a new ethical standard that would respect their rights. They want to make sure that technological advancement continues to move forward with these protections.
