In a world where artificial intelligence is increasingly threatening the traditional forms of human creativity, a group of prominent American novelists, including John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, and Jonathan Franzen, have initiated a legal battle against OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT. The writers accuse the software company of infringing on their copyrights by “training” its program using their books, thus potentially enabling it to produce its own creative works.
AI's growing influence in the entertainment industry
For quite some time now, artificial intelligence (AI) has been shaking up the entertainment industry. It's more than just a sci-fi narrative, as the rise of AI has led to some serious tension between humans and machines. Movie studios are increasingly leaning on algorithms and computer-generated imagery (CGI). While this does bring some benefits, it's also a major concern for the acting and screenwriting community. They worry that these developments may render them redundant, as AI continues to advance and learn.
Authors take legal action against OpenAI
Some of America's most well-known authors, including John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, and Jonathan Franzen, have initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT. The company is accused of infringing on authors' copyrights by using their books to 'train' the AI program. The concern here is not just about violation of copyrights. The heart of the matter is that ChatGPT could potentially churn out its own bestsellers, emulating the style and stories of these authors, thus blurring the line between human creativity and AI mimicry.
One of the striking examples of what this AI can do is found in the world of fantasy literature. ChatGPT has reportedly created an unauthorized and detailed outline for a 'prequel' to George RR Martin's celebrated Game of Thrones series. The proposed title? A Dawn of Direwolves. However, the issue here extends beyond just the creation of an unauthorized work. It's about the ability of AI to potentially generate original pieces of literature, raising significant questions about authorship and copyright in the digital age.
Amazon's countermeasures against AI-authored books
With a surge in self-published books written by AI, retail giant Amazon has decided to step in. They've implemented a new rule, limiting the number of books that a single novelist can upload in a day to three. This could be a comforting piece of news for human writers, especially those who are struggling with their debut novel. However, it also underscores the growing influence of AI in the literature segment and the need for checks and balances.
