Reports from the Financial Times (FT) indicate that the UK is actively pursuing greater transparency in the training of artificial intelligence (AI) models by tech firms.
These efforts are fueled by concerns raised by creators who fear that their work is being utilized without consent by AI projects.
Lucy Frazer, British Culture Secretary, disclosed to the FT that the government is crafting regulations to oversee the use of books, music, and TV shows by AI companies.
Frazer emphasized the government’s initial focus on transparency regarding the content utilized by AI firms to train their models. This transparency aims to empower creative industries to identify potential intellectual property infringements.
Acknowledging AI’s significant impact not only on journalism but also on the creative sectors, Frazer stressed the importance of transparency as the first step. She indicated ongoing discussions on issues such as content opt-in/out mechanisms and fair remuneration for creators.
However, Frazer did not delve into the specific mechanisms required to achieve greater transparency for rights holders to ascertain whether their content is being used to train AI models.
These efforts coincide with concerns raised by content creators regarding AI’s intrusion into Google search, now offering AI-generated summaries of search queries.
Marc McCollum, Chief Innovation Officer of Raptive, expressed concerns about the potential revenue loss for creators due to reduced website traffic resulting from AI-generated search summaries. He also highlighted the inadequate compensation for creators’ intellectual property, emphasizing its significance for many independent creators’ survival.
Nevertheless, not everyone shares a pessimistic view of AI search. Michael Hasse, a cybersecurity and technology consultant, noted that AI-based search could both aid and hinder consumers seeking specific products like jackets. He highlighted the dominance of companies with optimized SEO in traditional search results, often leading consumers to settle for products that are merely “good enough.”
As discussions on AI’s impact continue, the quest for transparency in its development and usage remains a focal point for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and content creators.
Source: pymnts.com
