By Anthony Wong
Once, artificial intelligence (AI) and the metaverses were the subjects of science fiction. However, throughout 2023, we have witnessed the awe-inspiring public releases of AI-generative technologies like ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion.
These advancements have propelled AI into the mainstream, revolutionizing human-machine interactions and granting us access to new frontiers of knowledge.
AI now possesses the ability to create various forms of art, motion pictures, voice cloning, stories, programming codes, and more. Humans excel in areas such as creativity, imagination, problem-solving, collaboration, management, and leadership.
As AI becomes imbued with knowledge acquired through machine learning and self-learning capabilities, it will increasingly resemble less of a machine or tool and more of a companion that can interact and work alongside us.
It has the potential to complement and supplement our work, assume functions and roles, and even make decisions on our behalf.
AI and data analytics have transformed data into a valuable commodity. Together, they can unlock and discover new forms of value, create innovative products and services, improve productivity, facilitate new business models and revenue streams, establish previously unseen connections, provide insights for growth and innovation in the digital economy, and support evidence-based decision-making.
The question remains: Will AI eventually surpass human capabilities and creativity? While there is no consensus on when this might occur, we are witnessing more examples of innovative applications and new creative works and inventions by AI.
Generative AI
Since my column in March 2023 for the 26th session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) in Geneva, the debate surrounding the use of data by generative AI has intensified.
Generative AI has ushered humanity into an era of new creativity and increased productivity for businesses, governments, organizations, and individuals. However, it has also given rise to a Pandora’s Box of controversies.
These include the generation of misinformation and disinformation, amplification of demographic stereotypes and biases, and the question of whether permission and compensation are required for using art, photographs, music, books, and other materials from third-party data owners and custodians to train AI models.
Many actors, writers, and artists have voiced their concerns that AI is replacing their work. They seek compensation for the use of their creative content as AI training data and raise issues regarding the creation and use of new AI-generated works.
In 2023, several lawsuits were filed by writers and artists against generative AI companies. Some of the allegations include the unauthorized copying of content/data for training generative AI models and unfair competition.
If successful, these legal actions could impede the progress and development of generative AI, potentially restricting the use of copyrighted content as training data.
On the other hand, a victory for generative AI companies could mark a turning point for intellectual property laws, allowing proprietary content to be used for the training and advancement of generative AI.
AI-generated digital replicas
In Hollywood, actors went on strike for nearly four months in 2023, demanding better pay and expressing concerns about the potential exploitation and misuse of their “digital replicas,” likenesses, and voices in motion pictures, television, and new media platforms.
In November, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) reached a tentative agreement to end their longest labour strike.
After lengthy negotiations, this precedent-setting agreement establishes a framework to safeguard the creation and use of AI-generated “digital replicas” of actors’ voices or likenesses, including obtaining consent and providing compensation.
SAG-AFTRA has defined the term “digital replicas” in the entertainment industry. Employment-based digital replicas refer to those created during a performer’s employment with their physical participation but used to portray the performer in scenes they didn’t shoot.
Independently created digital replicas are those often created using existing materials and used to portray the performer in scenes they didn’t shoot.
The above examples provide a glimpse into the profound impact AI and rapidly advancing digital replication technologies can have on the careers and livelihoods of actors and performers in the entertainment industry.
World leaders and experts have convened in various forums, including the recent UK AI Safety Summit, to discuss the merits and responsible development of frontier AI.
In the European Union, negotiations on the proposed Artificial Intelligence Act, which began over two years ago, have been delayed and disrupted due to the issues arising from the recent market entry of generative AI.
When the EU Artificial Intelligence Act is enacted, it will provide a robust AI framework for the world. However, it is unlikely that AI controversies and debates will come to an end anytime soon.
We are currently experiencing successive waves of technological change, reshaping how we work, live, and play.
These changes raise fundamental questions about our value as humans, disrupt existing business models, challenge our beliefs on equality and fairness, and test our long-established framework of governing laws.
Businesses should closely monitor works created predominantly by automated processes, including AI. Under current laws, human creativity is a vital factor in establishing copyright ownership, as our historical laws were designed for humans.
AI-generated works with minimal human “creativity” will face significant obstacles in obtaining copyright protection. As our world undergoes rapid recalibration due to AI advancements, we can envision how our work, life, and play will be shaped by technology in the years to come. While new roles will emerge, one thing is certain: jobs of the future will be different.
Therefore, it is prudent to stay a few steps ahead of machines, continuously enhance our digital-age skills, and nurture the human “nous” that machines currently lack.
Anthony Wong is Adjunct Professor, School of Information and Communication Technologies, Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus, CIO, Lawyer, and Futurist.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Sarawak Tribune.
