Technology

Computers, robots, and machines have played a role in the creative process for generations, producing crude images or outputs that artists use, tweak, or start from to create original works of art. David Bowie famously used a machine called the Verbasizer to generate random words and spark ideas for song lyrics on his 1995 album Outside. More recently, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has picked up steam, requiring us to rethink the role of AI in the creative process.

Source: AI and Copyright: A New Kind of Copyright Troll? The Rise of AI in Creative Works

Rapid technological advances such as the ChatGPT generative artificial intelligence (AI) app are complicating efforts by European Union lawmakers to agree on landmark AI laws, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The European Commission proposed the draft rules nearly two years ago in a bid to protect citizens from the dangers of the emerging technology, which has experienced a boom in investment and consumer popularity in recent months.

Source: As artificial intelligence booms, EU lawmakers wrangle over new rules – ET BrandEquity

Two Silicon Valley companies on Tuesday announced new tools that use artificial intelligence to generate images while tackling some of the thorniest legal issues surrounding the technology: copyrights and payments. “This collaboration (with Nvidia) is testament to the feasibility of a path of responsible AI development and the unique nature of Getty Images content and data,” Getty Images CEO Craig Peters told Reuters in an email.

Source: Adobe, Nvidia AI imagery systems aim to resolve copyright questions

RadioGPT comes from the American AI firm Futuri. Its CEO Daniel Anstandig told Axios that he designed the tool to “save radio, not compete with it.” The app uses GPT-4, TopicPulse, and AI voice technology. GPT-4 is the latest large language model that powers the globally-acclaimed ChatGPT AI chatbot. TopicPulse is Futuri’s AI-driven social content and story discovery tool. Meanwhile, AI voice technology imitates human voices using artificial intelligence. Together, they enable RadioGPT users to create radio stations by themselves. You may choose voices from the Voice Choice Library to host your shows.

Source: RadioGPT Makes Radio Shows With AI | Inquirer Technology

In one of the first legal cases in the US to test how blockchain technology applies to artists’ rights, a New York court has dismissed a lawsuit over the ownership of “the world’s first NFT.” Quantum was minted by Kevin McCoy in May of 2014, before Ethereum had launched or the term NFT (Non-fungible token) was even introduced. The NFT was then sold at Sotheby’s for $1.5m in June 2021.  Last February, both McCoy and the auction house were sued by Free Holdings, which claimed to be the rightful owner of Quantum.

Source: New York court dismisses case over ownership of ‘world’s first NFT’

Rewriting an HBO show so that your digital likeness can slay dragons might seem a little frivolous for a technology as hyped-up as artificial intelligence. But it’s an application that’s getting a lot of attention, including at South by Southwest (or SXSW), the annual tech and culture expo that overran Austin, Texas, this last week with film nerds, celebrities and venture capitalists. Throughout the conference, attendees imagined what chatbots, deep-fakes and content-generating software will mean for creative industries.

Source: Is AI the future of Hollywood? How the hype squares with reality

Microsoft today announced that its new AI-enabled Bing will now allow users to generate images with Bing Chat. This new feature is powered by DALL-E, OpenAI’s generative image generator. The company didn’t say which version of DALL-E it is using here, except for saying that it is using the “very latest DALL-E models.”

Source: Microsoft brings OpenAI’s DALL-E image creator to the new Bing

American programming pioneer Dr Stephen Thaler has developed an AI system named Dabus, which in turn has invented a new type of food container that can interlock with others. When he tried to apply for a patent for the container in New Zealand, citing Dabus as its inventor, the Commissioner of Patents’ office turned down the application.

Source: ‘Non-human life forms’ can’t be inventors under patent law

On Monday, New York-based Runway announced the availability of its Gen 2 system, which generates short snippets of video from a few words of user prompts. Users can type in a description of what they want to see, for example: “a cat walking in the rain,” and it will generate a roughly 3-second video clip showing just that, or something close. Alternately, users can upload an image as a reference point for the system as well as a prompt.

Source: Generative AI’s Next Frontier Is Video

A broad coalition of creative organizations has announced the launch of the Human Artistry Campaign to ensure AI is developed and used in ways that support human culture and artistry rather than replacing or eroding it. The group outlined principles advocating best practices for AI that emphasize respect for artists, their work, and their personas, as well as transparency and adherence to existing law, including copyright.

Source: Major Labels, Recording Academy, 30+ Music Organizations Issue List of ‘AI Principles’