Innovative AI Solutions in Death Tech and Copyright Challenges
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Chapter 1: The Legal Implications of AI Art Generation
It may come as a surprise that the introduction of technology leveraging original artwork without proper copyright permissions or compensation has led to a flurry of legal conflicts just six months post-launch.
Legal representatives were quick to get involved. Getty Images has initiated a series of legal actions against various AI firms over their utilization of Getty's copyrighted images to train their image-generating algorithms. Notably, Getty has filed a copyright lawsuit against Stability AI, the company behind the controversial generative-art tool, which has drawn scrutiny since its public debut. This UK case stands as one of the first of its kind and could establish a significant legal precedent for similar future disputes.
Getty possesses an extensive collection of over 135 million copyrighted images, which Stability AI allegedly “unlawfully copied and processed millions of images protected by copyright... to advance Stability AI’s commercial interests while undermining the rights of content creators.”
In the United States, a trio of artists has initiated a class-action lawsuit against Stability AI, DeviantArt, and Midjourney for their employment of Stable Diffusion after discovering that their artworks were used to train AI datasets without consent or remuneration.
In response, Stability AI has claimed that such allegations reflect a “misunderstanding of how generative AI technology operates and the associated copyright laws.”
The Briefing by the IP Law Blog discusses the copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Getty Images against Stability AI, highlighting the broader implications for the tech industry.
Section 1.1: The Rise of Death Technology
A South Korean startup, DeepBrain AI, has emerged in the death tech sector, creating AI representations of deceased family members, allowing the living to maintain a form of communication with them. By employing video and voice synthesis, DeepBrain AI facilitates real-time interactions using a dataset derived from seven hours of recorded material. The videos of the individual, captured while they were alive, are transformed into an AI avatar through deep learning, mimicking the person's likeness, voice, and expressions.
Another notable company, StoryFile, was established in 2017 and specializes in producing interactive holograms of Holocaust survivors. The success of this initiative has led to an expansion into a broader market within the death tech realm, enabling anyone to create a StoryFile by recording a series of videos answering pre-set questions.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Mechanism Behind AI Conversations
Both DeepBrain AI and StoryFile utilize advanced video and voice AI to gather extensive responses to various inquiries. The technology interprets the most appropriate answers based on the questions posed by those still living. This creates an illusion of conversation; however, it is crucial to note that there is no true emotional connection derived from the recordings. Even a complete stranger could engage with the AI, and it would deliver the same responses without any personal touch.
Ginger Liu, the founder of Ginger Media & Entertainment and a Ph.D. researcher in artificial intelligence and visual arts media, brings a unique perspective to this evolving field.
Section 1.2: Copyright and Ethical Considerations
The second video highlights the illegal use of photos and the ongoing debates surrounding Getty Images in the context of AI technologies.