Various cultural organizations, artists and other professionals from sectors such as the audiovisual or literary sectors published a manifesto this Wednesday in which they ask the government for measures to protect them from abuses linked to progress in generative artificial intelligence. The manifesto, currently signed by six organizations, has as its main objective the denunciation of irregularities linked to AI and the demand for respect and dignity in their work.
The organizations that have joined forces through this manifesto are making a direct appeal to the government and Parliament to protect both citizens and professionals before the entry into force of the European Union regulation on artificial intelligence. of the artistic and cultural sector. Respect for the dignity and rights of human beings, protection of freedom of expression and creation and respect for copyright are the three essential points on which this manifesto is based.
This complaint comes after various applications based on artificial intelligence flooded the market with the ability to generate images, texts or videos for any unconscious person. A palpable risk that makes this tool look with concern at the possible loss of work of professionals who dedicate themselves to these creative processes.
In the manifesto they not only address the government and authorities, who must supervise and control the situation until it is properly regulated, but they also appeal to companies that develop artificial intelligence. They are asked to respect their copyright and intellectual property rights and to stop competing with them unfairly. These artificial intelligence companies are also being asked for greater transparency, to prove that they have obtained permission to use their works in any phase of construction and to demonstrate that they have paid their owners. They also demand that illegally generated AI models be removed from the market.
Concerning products created with artificial intelligence, they ask that they not be considered as works of intellectual creation nor that they be protected. They also cannot request aid or subsidies likely to compete with other cultural professionals.
“This situation must be corrected as quickly as possible”
Alianza Audiovisual (AA), ACE Traductores, the Association of Directors of Spain (ADE), the Federation of Associations of Illustrators of Spain (FADIP) and the Union of Proofreaders (UNICO) are the organizations that have showed their support by signing this manifesto. A document which, as noted, will be open to new memberships from all organizations concerned with the advancement of artificial intelligence.
This manifesto comes after the approval last July of the European Regulation on artificial intelligence, the international reference standard which will have a fundamental influence on future regulatory developments. In fact, the regulation itself highlights the risks posed by the use of artificial intelligence systems that directly affect professionals in the cultural sector.
The problem is that most artificial intelligence is trained to work with immense amounts of data from the web, regardless of origin or copyright. This significantly endangers the work of cultural professionals, who see how their jobs are used without credit or remuneration by these systems. “This situation must be remedied as quickly as possible,” demand the signatory cultural organizations.
From the manifesto itself, they also point out the appropriate name. What is generated by artificial intelligence are not works, but products. Products sometimes identical to works produced by professionals. These practices generate unfair competition and discourage artistic creation, endangering these professions.
