AI a major threat, say thousands of artists

Abba's Björn Ulvaeus, the actor Julianne Moore and the Radiohead singer Thom Yorke are among 10,500 signatories of a statement from workers in the creative industries warning artificial intelligence companies that unlicensed use of their work is a "major, unjust threat" to artists' livelihoods.

- Dan Milmo

The statement comes amid legal battles between creative professionals and tech companies over the use of their work to train AI models such as ChatGPT and claims that using their intellectual property without permission is a breach of copyright.

It reads: "The unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works, and must not be permitted."

Thousands of creative professionals from the worlds of literature, music, film, theatre and television have backed the statement, with authors including Kazuo Iswhiguro, Ann Patchett and Kate Mosse, musicians including the Cure's Robert Smith and the composer Max Richter, and actors including Kevin Bacon, Rosario Dawson and F Murray Abraham.