What does it mean for a writer, such as a novelist, to have a unique “voice”? And does artificial intelligence (AI) help or hurt that voice? Microsoft researchers set out to answer that question with a small study using 19 fiction writers, 30 readers, and short passages written with the help of OpenAI’s GPT-4. The research takes its title from a comment by one of the writers — “it was 80% me, 20% AI.”
Source: Writers voice anxiety about using AI. Readers don’t seem to care
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today released an official Artificial Intelligence Strategy aimed at outlining the challenges faced by the Office both internally and externally, as the reach of AI impacts all aspects of innovation and society. According to the report, AI-related patent applications are up 33% since 2018 and appeared in 60% of all technology subclasses in 2023.
Source: USPTO Presents AI Strategy as AI Patent Applications Soar by 33%
The Los Angeles fires are expected to rank as the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, and will impact every sector and industry in Southern California and beyond. Entertainment and media businesses have no special immunity. In fact, the high volume of industry insiders who called the Palisades and Altadena home means that the pain and ripple effects across Hollywood and the creative community will be severe and long-lasting.
Source: What Hollywood Lost in the Fires
Music streaming platform Deezer has partnered with rights management organization Sacem to implement an artist-centric payment system (ACPS) for publishing rights across Deezer’s platform in France. Deezer and Sacem describe the deal as “the world’s first update” to the remuneration model for publishing since the advent of streaming services.
Source: Deezer partners with Sacem to adopt artist-centric payment model for publishing rights in France
Asteria Film and Moonvalley are set to launch Marey, an ethically trained generative AI video model for Hollywood in early 2025, designed to prioritize legal and creative transparency by using exclusively licensed and original data. This approach stands in stark contrast to leading generative AI models, including OpenAI’s Sora and Meta’s Movie Gen, which have faced criticism for using copyrighted material without direct consent
Source: AI Video Model ‘Marey’ Poised to Shake Up Hollywood in 2025 — AI In Hollywood
When “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial,” an AI-generated artwork, won first prize at a prestigious competition in 2022, the backlash was swift and visceral. For many in the art world, it wasn’t just a controversial winner—it was a direct threat to the human essence of creativity. Generative AI was dismissed as a novelty at best and a cheap imitation at worst. Now, one of the industry’s most influential authorities is challenging that assumption.
Source: Is Art Basel’s AI embrace a turning point for the art world?
Among the many initiatives in a 50-point AI Opportunities Action Plan presented to Parliament on Monday (January 13) is a commitment to reforming the UK’s text and data mining regime to be “at least as competitive” as the European Union. “The current uncertainty around intellectual property (IP) is hindering innovation and undermining our broader ambitions for AI, as well as the growth of our creative industries,” the plan states.
Source: UK’s plan to make copyright law more AI-friendly raises concerns
The platform allows authors to claim their works via ISBN or direct upload and set licensing preferences. AI companies can then browse and license content through what the company describes as an automated interface. The system currently supports rights for AI model training and reference via Retrieval Augmented Generation models. Created by Humans plans to add licensing for transformative rights in the future.
Source: Created by Humans AI Rights Platform Launches for Authors
How many artists are releasing music right now? Analytics firm Chartmetric has a new figure: 11.3 million. That’s how many its platform is now tracking, and it represents a 1.7m increase from a year ago according to its annual report. “On average, 4.6k artists were added to our platform every day,” noted the company. “Alongside artists, a total 25.7 million tracks were ingested into the Chartmetric system in 2024.”
Source: Chartmetric tracks 11m Spotify artists. Fewer than 1.6m have over 10 listeners
AI music startup Suno is being sued by major labels, but its CEO Mikey Shulman seems optimistic that it can build bridges with rightsholders again. “There’s the traditional Silicon Valley mentality of, like, ‘Screw you, existing industry! I will disrupt you, there’s nothing that you can do about it’ and then there’s the existing incumbent approach, which is like ‘I will sue you until you go away!’ Both of those are obviously wrong,” Shulman told the 20VC podcast.
Source: Suno boss targets ‘bigger, brighter future’ with music industry