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This Week in AI: HarperCollins' Bold Move and Its Implications
Authors would have to opt-in to the agreement with an unnamed AI firm, with one reporting an offer of $2,500 to license their book for three years.
Unfold by harman
November 19, 2024
Good morning! This week's focus starts with a controversial move in the publishing world. HarperCollins, one of the largest publishers globally, is asking authors to license their books for AI training.
"It seems like they think they're cooked and chasing short money while they can. I disagree," says author Daniel Kibblesmith, highlighting the tension between technological progress and creative rights.
But don't worry—there's plenty more to cover today. In this edition of Unfold Now:
🧠 AI and Publishing: HarperCollins' Controversial AI Deal
🌍 AI Ethics: OpenAI Investor's Surprising Stance
🏛️ Legal Challenges: AI Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
— Harman, Unfold Now
🧠 AI and Publishing: HarperCollins' Controversial AI Deal
Summary: HarperCollins has agreed with an undisclosed AI technology company to use select nonfiction backlist titles for training AI models [1]. The publisher offers authors a non-negotiable sum of $2,500 to license their books for three years [3]. This move has sparked outrage among some authors, with Daniel Kibblesmith, writer of "Santa's Husband," publicly declining the offer and describing it as "abominable[2].
The deal allows for "limited use" of the selected titles to improve AI model quality and performance [1]. HarperCollins emphasizes that authors have the choice to opt in or pass on the opportunity [2]. However, the company has been required to keep the AI company's identity confidential as part of the agreement [1].
This is just like how other companies are using data to train their AI models, but some companies like Bluesky refuse to do that. Bluesky's Bold Stand Against AI Training
"$2,500 per title is an insultingly small amount for the entirety of your intellectual property to be chewed and regurgitated ad nauseam."
Why it matters: This development raises significant questions about the future of publishing, authors' rights, and the role of AI in creative industries. It highlights the growing tension between technological advancement and the protection of intellectual property. The deal could set a precedent for how publishers and authors navigate the integration of AI in the literary world.
Source: The Verge
🌍 AI Ethics: OpenAI Investor's Surprising Stance
Summary: Josh Kushner, an investor in OpenAI, has publicly praised Elon Musk, despite Musk's ongoing lawsuit against the AI company. This unexpected show of support comes at a time when OpenAI is facing legal challenges from its former board member and initial investor.
Still the lawsuit explains a lot about Sam Atlman’s Open AI because of their recent Sam Altman will co-chair San Francisco mayor-elect Daniel Lurie’s transition team and How ChatGPT Crushed an Ed-Tech Giant that they are moving forward as the monopoly and not as non-profit that they intiially started with OpenAI was a research lab — now it’s just another tech company
Kushner's praise for Musk, particularly in light of the lawsuit, raises questions about the complex relationships within the AI industry and the potential impact on OpenAI's future direction.
Why it matters: This development underscores the intricate web of relationships and conflicting interests in the AI sector. It may influence public perception of the lawsuit and potentially affect OpenAI's strategic decisions moving forward.
Source: TechCrunch
🏛️ Legal Challenges: AI Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
Summary: An Indian news agency has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging copyright infringement. This legal action represents a growing trend of content creators and publishers challenging AI companies over the use of copyrighted material in training large language models.
The lawsuit highlights the ongoing debate about the legality and ethics of using copyrighted content to train AI systems without explicit permission or compensation.
Why it matters: This case could set a significant precedent for how copyright law is applied to AI training data. The outcome may have far-reaching implications for AI development practices and could potentially reshape the relationship between content creators and AI companies globally.
Source: TechCrunch
🚀 In Other News:
Sagence is building analog chips to run AI (source: TechCrunch)
Itching to write a book? AI publisher Spines wants to make a deal (source: TechCrunch)
Microsoft brings together its enterprise AI offerings in the Azure AI Foundry (source: TechCrunch)
Database startup Neo4j embraces AI to supercharge growth (source: TechCrunch)
Physical AI startup BrightAI bootstraps to $80m in revenue (source: TechCrunch)
Tech Memes 😂
🔍 Spotlight: AI Ethics and Creative Rights
As AI continues to reshape various industries, the debate over ethical AI development and creative rights protection intensifies. From publishing to news media, stakeholders are grappling with the implications of AI on intellectual property.
Want to stay informed about the latest developments in AI ethics and creative rights? Consider exploring resources like the AI Ethics Lab or the Creative Commons AI Ethics Guidelines.
Thanks for reading today's edition of Unfold Now! Stay curious, stay informed, and we'll see you in the next one.
— Harman
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