Generative Artificial Intelligence and Copyright: Both Sides of the Black Box

Abstract

The advent of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has disrupted established norms and policies, transforming theoretical concepts into remarkable real-world applications. Through the advancement of large language models (LLMs) and deep learning, even non-artists can effortlessly produce impressive works of art, and chat bots adeptly assist in various tasks. However, the ethical implications of utilizing copyrighted materials in GAI training sets have sparked debates surrounding fair use and the impact on creators. This paper explores the multifaceted ethical landscape of GAI by examining the viewpoints of diverse stakeholders, including copyright owners, artists, and end users. It delves into the consequences of machine learning and training sets on individual rights and innovation, aiming to strike a balance that promotes progress while respecting artistic expression. Moreover, the paper presents a qualitative analysis of prompts submitted to the text-to-image GAI service Midjourney, shedding light on user perspectives. To achieve optimal outcomes, fostering open dialogue between advocates of change and preservation becomes essential, proactively addressing legal, ethical, and social challenges to harness the potential of generative artificial intelligence while safeguarding the rights of creators and nurturing human creativity.

*** In keeping with the themes of this paper (e.g., transparency and the thoughtful use of new technologies), the text of the manuscript was entirely human written, and the above abstract was generated by feeding the introduction into ChatGPT, requesting a short abstract, and editing the output.

Keywords: copyright, artificial intelligence, ethics, intellectual property law