Ki must support human culture

Ki must support human culture

San Francisco, 3/22/2023

A coalition of major music and other organizations announced the launch of the Human Artistry Campaign, which aims to ensure that AI technologies are “developed and used in a way that supports human culture and artistry – and not in a way that… it replaces or undermines”.

The rapid rise of AI technology has created a world of tricky copyright questions—for example, if David Guetta releases a song with a ChatGPT-generated verse by a fake Eminem, who gets paid?

The Human Artistry Campaign was recently announced at the South by Southwest conference with support from more than 40 organizations including the Recording Academy, the National Music Publishers Association, the Recording Industry of America and many others.

Their goal: “to ensure that artificial intelligence technologies are developed and deployed in a way that supports human culture and artistry — and not in a way that replaces or undermines them. They call for an AI with “respect for artists and their work.” Another point reads: “Compliance with existing laws, including copyright and intellectual property”.

The campaign urges supporters to sign a petition to advance these principles.

Members include: American Association of Independent Music, American Federation of Musicians, Americana Music Association, American Photographic Artists, Artist Rights Alliance, Artist Rights Watch, ASCAP, Association of American Publishers, Black Music Action Coalition, Christian Music Trade Association, Church Music Publishers Association, Concept Art Association, Department of Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, European Composer and Songwriter Alliance, Future of Music Coalition, Georgia Music Partners, Global Music Rights, Gospel Music Association, Graphic Artists Guild, IFPI, International Federation of Actors , # IRespectMusic, Living Legends Foundation, MLB Players’ Association, Music Artists Coalition, Music Tech Policy, Music Workers Alliance, National Music Publishers’ Association, News Media Alliance, NFL Players Association, NHL Players’ Association, Professional Photographers of America, Recording Academy, Recording Industry Association of America, Rhythm & Blues F oundation, S AG-AFTRA, SESAC, Songwriters of North America, SoundExchange and The Trichordist.

Basic principles for artificial intelligence applications to support human creativity and performance

1. Technology has long empowered human expression, and AI will be no different.

Various technologies have been used successfully for generations to support human creativity. Take music, for example… From piano rolls to amplification to guitar pedals, synths, drum machines, digital audio workstations, beat libraries and stems, and more, music creators have long used technology to express their visions through a variety of voices, instruments, and devices. AI is and will be playing this role as a tool to support the creative process, and increasingly will do so to enable a wider range of people to express themselves creatively.

Additionally, AI has many valuable applications outside of the creative process itself, including those that strengthen fan connections, refine personalized recommendations, identify content quickly and accurately, aid in scheduling, automate and improve efficient payment systems – and much more. We welcome these technological advances.

2. Man-made works will continue to play an essential role in our lives.

Creative work shapes our identity, our values and our worldview. People relate most deeply to works that embody the lived experience, perception, and attitude of others. Only humans can create and fully realize works written, recorded, created or performed with such a specific meaning. Art cannot exist independently of human culture.

3. Use of copyrighted work and use of the voices and likenesses of professional performers requires approval, licensing and compliance with all relevant state and federal laws.

We fully recognize the immense potential of AI to push the frontiers of knowledge and scientific advancement. However, as with previous technologies, the use of copyrighted works requires permission from the copyright owner. AI must be subject to free market licensing for the use of works in the development and training of AI models. Creators and copyright owners must retain exclusive control over how their content is used. AI developers must ensure that all content used for training purposes is approved and licensed by the copyright owner, including content previously used by pre-trained AIs they may adopt. In addition, the voices and images of artists and athletes may only be used for specific purposes with their consent and a fair market fee.

4. Governments should not create new copyright or other IP exceptions that allow AI developers to exploit creators without permission or compensation.

AI must not receive exceptions to copyright or other intellectual property laws and must comply with the fundamental principles of fair market competition and remuneration. Creating special shortcuts or legal loopholes for AI would hurt creators’ livelihoods, damage creators’ brands, and limit incentives to create and invest in new work.

5. Copyright should only protect the unique value of human intellectual creativity.

Copyright protection is designed to stimulate and reward human creativity, skill, labor and judgment – not just results created and produced by machines. Human creators, whether using traditional tools or using computers to express their creativity, are the foundation of the creative industries and we need to ensure that human creators are paid for their work.

6. Trust and transparency are critical to AI success and copyright protection.

Full recording of copyrighted works, performances and likenesses, including how they were used to develop and train an AI system, is essential. Algorithmic transparency and a clear identification of the origin of a work are fundamental for the trustworthiness of AI. Stakeholders should collaborate to develop standards for technologies that identify the inputs used to create AI-generated outputs. In addition to acquiring appropriate licenses, content generated solely by AI should be labeled and describe all inputs and methods used to create it – informing consumer choices and protecting creators and rights holders.

7. The interests of creators must be represented in policy making.

Policy makers need to consider the interests of human creators when shaping policies around AI. Creators live at the forefront of technological developments, building and inspiring them. As such, they need a seat at a table in any conversations about laws, regulations, or government priorities related to AI that would impact their creativity and the way it impacts their industry and livelihoods.

In the announcement, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr said, “There is so much potential in AI. But it also poses risks for our creative community. It’s crucial that we get this right early on so we don’t risk losing the artistic magic that only humans can create.”

David Israelite, President and CEO of the NMPA added: “Incredible music comes from individuals. As AI capabilities grow, we, as an industry, agree that human art must be protected by strong copyright laws and policies, and that AI tools be developed in a way that doesn’t erode the value of songwriters’ work.”

RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier observed, “Human artistry is unrepeatable. Recent developments in AI are remarkable, but we’ve already seen the cost of carelessly rushing forward without really thinking or respecting laws and rights. Our principles are designed to provide a healthy path for AI innovation that encourages and rewards human artistry, creativity and achievement.”

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