The recent and dramatic increase in AI-generated images is blurring the lines of what’s real and fake—and underscores the need for more tools to discern between the two. In a recent study, researchers in Italy analyzed a suite of AI models designed to identify fake images, finding these current methods to be fairly effective. But the results also point to an AI arms race to keep pace with evolving generative AI tools.
Source: The AI Arms Race to Combat Fake Images Is Even—For Now
Adobe has clarified its Terms of Use update, which initially led users to believe their unpublished work was fodder for AI training. Adobe says it does not train its Firefly generative AI models on user content and that it “will never assume ownership of a customer’s work.” Backlash snowballed this week after Adobe users were notified of an update to its Terms of Use poli
Source: ‘Adobe does not train Firefly Gen AI models on customer content’: Company responds to backlash
Twitch has struck deals with all three major music companies, including Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music, and a large number of independent labels via Merlin. According to Twitch, since early 2020, the number of DJs streaming on the service has more than quadrupled and that “over 15,000 of them
Source: Sony, Universal, Warner and Merlin strike music licensing deals with Twitch for DJ livestreams
While AI can produce generic music, many critics argue that it lacks the originality of human-created works. Merlin Connect seeks to address this by providing emerging tech platforms with access to a vast library of “high-quality” music from independent artists, the organization said Wednesday (June 5).
Source: Merlin launches ‘Merlin Connect’ to provide tech platforms with licensed indie music
Stability AI is perhaps best known for its stable diffusion text-to-image generation AI technology, but that’s only one part of the company’s broader portfolio, which includes multiple models for code, text and audio. In Sept. 2023, Stability AI first publicly launched Stable Audio, as a text-to-audio generative AI tool. Stable Audio 2.0 was released on April 3 bringing more clarity and length to the generated audio.
Source: Stability AI debuts new Stable Audio Open for sound design
YouTube’s latest Transparency Report shows that fewer copyright holders used the Content ID system to protect their works. Despite the modest decline, the claim volume continues to grow. For the first time, the number of processed claims exceeded one billion in the six-month reporting period.
Source: YouTube Processed a Billion Content ID Copyright Claims in Six Months * TorrentFreak
The recent wave of deals with OpenAI means publishers are getting compensated for their content being used to feed and train large language models (LLMs). This has been a major sticking point for publishers as these large tech companies have scraped their content without permission or payment. But the agreements are also getting a fair amount of criticism. Compensation for use of content is good for a publisher, but are they getting paid enough?
Canada’s Online Streaming Act requires streamers to contribute 5% of their annual revenue to a number of programs designed to aid Canadian content creators. “We are deeply concerned with today’s decision to impose a discriminatory tax on music streaming services that are already making significant contributions to Canadian artists and culture,” Graham Davies, President and CEO of the Digital Media Association, said in a statement.
Composers and songwriters are looking to receive an additional $8 million (£6 million) in royalties from online services each year from PRS for Music. CEO Andrea Czapary Martin announced a 20% reduction in the administration rate from multi-territory online (MTOL) royalties’ collection — the result of the collective management organization surpassing its targets and delivering historic distributions and revenues.
Source: PRS for Music Squeezes Out Another $8 Million for Songwriters
Google’s pivot to artificial intelligence has news publishers freaking out—and running to the government. “Agency intervention is necessary to stop the existential threat Google poses to original content creators,” the News/Media Alliance wrote in a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It asked the agencies to use antitrust authority “to stop Google’s latest expansion of AI Overviews.”
Source: News publishers try to sic the government on Google AI