In a significant move to understand and shape the landscape of generative artificial intelligence (AI), the Society of Authors (SoA) has launched a comprehensive survey targeting writers, illustrators, and translators. This initiative seeks to gather insights into the creative community’s usage and perspectives on generative AI, a technology rapidly altering the world of content creation.

Exploring the creative impact: generative AI in the arts

The survey by Society of Authors delves into the attitudes towards integrating generative AI into the creative process, particularly focusing on its role in generating new content, be it audio, images, videos, or text. Notably, the survey does not encompass AI tools used for translation or autocompletion, highlighting the specific interest in generative systems.

A significant concern addressed by the SoA is the methods used to develop these AI systems. It’s reported that vast quantities of creative works, including hundreds of thousands of books and millions of images, have been used, often without explicit permission. This practice raises pressing questions about copyright infringement and the lack of transparency from developers regarding the source materials for their AI models.

Balancing innovation with rights: The SoA’s mission for fair practice

The SoA emphasises the dual nature of generative AI as both a challenge and an opportunity for creative professionals. Through this survey, the organisation aims to compile a mix of qualitative and quantitative data, providing a robust, evidence-backed foundation for its policy and advisory efforts in the realm of generative AI throughout 2024.

In a statement, the SoA outlined its objectives: “We are working to raise awareness, provide guidance, challenge poor practice, and argue for the recognition of creators’ rights when their work is used in the development or output of generative AI systems.”

Read: Creative bodies urge UK PM: safeguard copyright at AI Summit

The survey is open until January 31, 2024, and welcomes responses from both members and non-members of the SoA. In line with their privacy policy, all responses will be collected anonymously, ensuring the confidentiality of participants.

This initiative by the SoA represents a crucial step in addressing the complex interplay between emerging technologies and the rights of creators, especially we enter this new year. It also underscores the need for an informed dialogue and strategic approach in navigating the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in creative industries.