AI: Friend or Foe to Artists?
June 2023
London School of Economics (LSE)

Introduction
Dive into the digital dilemma where artists battle against the tide of generative artificial intelligence (AI)! From the London School of Economics, learn how AI's Aladdin-like abilities to conjure content from mere prompts are challenging the value of human creativity. Discover the controversies, lawsuits, and the quest for new laws to protect the irreplaceable spark of human artistry. Will watermarks and legal battles save the day, or is it time for a new approach to copyright in the age of AI?
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The Art of Protecting Creativity
In a world where your favorite artists and their unique styles can be mimicked by a machine, the question of protecting creators' rights becomes more than just a debate—it's a necessity. Imagine a world where the drawing you spent weeks perfecting could be replicated in seconds by a computer, or a photo you took could be transformed without your permission. This isn't just about art; it's about the value of human creativity and ensuring that artists can continue to make a living from their work. As you dive into your own creative projects or simply enjoy the art around you, understanding this issue helps you appreciate the importance of safeguarding artists' rights in the digital age. It's a matter that touches on fairness, respect, and the future of creativity itself.
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Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
A type of AI that can create new content, such as images or text, after learning from a large set of data.

Copyright
A law that protects the creator's original work from being used without permission.

Biometric data
Unique physical characteristics of a person, such as facial features or fingerprints, used for identification.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
A U.S. law that addresses the rights and responsibilities of online platforms in relation to copyright content.

Fair use
A legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

Watermark
A recognizable image or pattern in paper or digital form that is used to identify the owner or creator of a document or piece of art.
Independent Research Ideas

Exploring the ethics of AI in art creation
Investigate the moral implications of using AI to replicate or create art based on human artists' styles. What does this mean for the future of artistic authenticity?

The impact of AI on traditional art forms
How might AI technologies transform traditional art forms, such as painting or music composition? This could include a study on how artists are integrating AI into their creative processes.

Copyright laws and generative AI
An analysis of current copyright laws and their effectiveness in protecting artists against generative AI. How might laws need to evolve to address new technological advancements?

Biometric data and privacy concerns
Research the use of biometric data by applications like Lensa and the privacy implications for individuals. How do laws protect users, and where might they fall short?

The role of watermarks in digital art protection
Examine how digital watermarks can help protect artists' work online. This could include a technical exploration of how watermarks are created and embedded in digital images or documents.
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