Hollywood Celebs Launch Anti-AI Campaign

Several A-list celebrities are backing a new campaign launched Thursday to protest the “theft” Artificial Intelligence allegedly engages in to generate output.

An organization called the Human Artistry Campaign debuted the “Stealing Isn’t Innovation” initiative.

“America’s creative community is the envy of the world and creates jobs, economic growth, and exports. But rather than respect and protect this valuable asset, some of the biggest tech companies, many backed by private equity and other funders, are using American creators’ work to build AI platforms without authorization or regard for copyright law,” the web description says.

“​Artists, writers, and creators of all kinds are banding together with a simple message: Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft — plain and simple.”

Their plight earned signatures from major celebrities including Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Fran Drescher, Jennifer Hudson, Kristen Bell, Michele Mulroney, Olivia Munn, Sean Astin, and “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan, to name a few.

The list of 700 supporters also included musicians such as Cyndi Lauper, LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride, Rob Thomas, Gavin DeGraw, MGMT, One Republic, R.E.M., plus best-selling authors Jodi Picoult and Jonathan Franzen.

The Human Artistry Campaign puts forth the suggestion that AI companies should take the “ethical” route and pay to license the material they’re using. They also argue that creators should have the choice to opt out and not have their work included in AI generated content.

“Real innovation comes from the human motivation to change our lives. It moves opportunity forward while driving economic growth and creating jobs,” Human Artistry Campaign senior advisor Dr. Moiya McTier said in a statement, per The Hollywood Reporter. “But AI companies are endangering artists’ careers while exploiting their practiced craft, using human art and other creative works without authorization to amass billions in corporate earnings.”

“America wins when technology companies and creators collaborate to make the highest quality consumer and enterprise digital products and tools. Solutions like licensing offer a path to a mutually beneficial outcome for all,” McTier concluded.

The argument over the use of AI in Hollywood is heating up, with industry players taking radically different approaches to the technology. Some creators are embracing it, teaming up with AI companies to prepare for what’s next in the industry. But others are going on record as vehemently opposed to advances such as AI-generated actors.