Asking AI: Are there any remedies that match the ‘move fast and break things’ and ‘just do it’ mentality of the AI developers?

Question 1 of 2 for AI services: Considering the conversation here: 

What else can victims or potential victims do the moment AI companies are counting on regulators and courts of law to take a long time to - in any way - offer any level of protection to content creators and rights owners? Please list any alternative means available to those who do not want to accept the status quo of AI companies ingesting copyrighted and pirated data for training purposes, remixing and (re)monetization all without permission. Are there any remedies that match the ‘move fast and break things’ and ‘just do it’ mentality of the AI developers?

ChatGPT-4’s answer:Used Link Reader

The article you shared discusses the ways in which technology companies can take advantage of the slow response of courts, lawmakers, regulators, and watchdogs in adapting to the rapidly changing technological landscape. It mentions that these companies can introduce new products or services that may not comply with existing laws or regulations, and they can use their financial resources and lobbying power to shape the regulatory landscape in their favor.

In response to your question about what victims or potential victims can do to protect their content from being used by AI companies without permission, here are some alternative means:

1. Digital Rights Management (DRM): DRM technologies can help protect digital content by preventing unauthorized redistribution and limiting ways consumers can copy content they've purchased.

2. Watermarking: Watermarking is a technique used to embed a hidden copyright notice or a digital signal in a digital asset to verify its authenticity or to track any misuse.

3. Content Tracking: There are tools and services that can help track and monitor where and how your content is being used online. This can help in identifying unauthorized use of copyrighted material.

4. Legal Agreements: When working with any third-party, ensure that you have legal agreements in place that clearly define how your content can be used.

5. Public Awareness and Advocacy: Raising public awareness about the issue can put pressure on AI companies to change their practices. This could involve media campaigns, public speaking, or lobbying lawmakers to take action.

6. Collaboration with Tech Companies: Engage with tech companies to develop ethical guidelines and standards for AI development and use. This could help ensure that companies are held accountable for their actions.

7. Legal Action: While this can be a lengthy and expensive process, taking legal action against companies that misuse copyrighted content can serve as a deterrent to others.

8. Open Source Licensing: For some creators, making their work available under an open-source license can be a strategic choice. This allows others to use their work under certain conditions, and can help foster a community around their creations.

9. Blockchain Technology: Blockchain can be used to create a decentralized database of ownership rights. This can provide a clear and unchangeable record of who owns what content.

10. AI Monitoring: Use AI to monitor the use of copyrighted content. There are AI solutions that can identify copyrighted material and flag it for review.

These are just a few potential strategies. The best approach will depend on the specific circumstances and resources of the content creator. It's also worth noting that these strategies are not foolproof and may not be effective in all situations. However, they represent proactive steps that content creators can take to protect their work in the face of the challenges posed by AI and other emerging technologies.

Google Bard’s answer:The conversation you linked to raises some important concerns about the use of copyrighted data by AI companies. While it is true that copyright law is still catching up to the realities of AI, there are a number of things that victims or potential victims can do to protect their rights.

• Send a cease and desist letter. This is a formal letter that warns the AI company that they are infringing on your copyrights and that they need to stop immediately. If the company does not comply, you may be able to take legal action.

• File a DMCA takedown notice. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) provides a way for copyright owners to have infringing content removed from websites. If you believe that an AI company is using your copyrighted data without permission, you can file a DMCA takedown notice with the website where the content is hosted.

• Work with a lawyer. If you are serious about protecting your rights, you should consult with an attorney who specializes in copyright law. They can help you assess your case and develop a strategy for enforcement.

In addition to these legal remedies, there are also a number of alternative means that victims or potential victims can use to protect their rights. For example, they can:

• Publicize the issue. If you believe that an AI company is infringing on your copyrights, you can spread the word to other content creators and rights owners. This can help to put pressure on the company to change its practices.

• Create a blacklist. You can create a list of AI companies that are known to infringe on copyrights. This list can be shared with other content creators and rights owners, so that they can avoid using these companies.

• Support organizations that are fighting for copyright reform. There are a number of organizations that are working to reform copyright law to better protect the rights of content creators. You can support these organizations by donating money or volunteering your time.

It is important to remember that the status quo is not inevitable. If enough people speak out and take action, we can change the way that AI companies use copyrighted data.

Bing Chat’s answer:Thank you for your question. I understand that you are concerned about the misuse of AI by some companies and the lack of protection for content creators and rights owners. This is a complex and important issue that affects many people and industries.

There is no simple or definitive answer to your question, but I can share some possible ways that victims or potential victims can try to protect their content from AI misuse, based on some of the information I found online. These are not legal advice or guarantees, but rather suggestions that may help you or others in similar situations.

Some of the ways to protect your content from AI misuse are:

• Tagging your artwork: In order for the large AI training sets to correctly evaluate and use your artwork, it is necessary for them to have good quality labelled data. By tagging your artwork with your name, website, or other identifiers, you can make it harder for AI to use your content without attribution or permission1.

• Copyright protection: You can register your content with a copyright agency or service that can help you monitor and enforce your rights online. Some examples are Creative Commons, Copytrack, and Pixsy. These services can help you detect and report unauthorized use of your content, as well as pursue legal action if necessary.

• Watermarking: You can add a visible or invisible watermark to your content that indicates your ownership and source. This can deter some AI from using your content, or at least make it easier to prove your claim if they do. However, watermarks can also affect the quality and aesthetics of your content, so you may want to use them sparingly or selectively1.

• Don’t post on social media platforms: Some social media platforms may have terms and conditions that allow them to use your content for their own purposes, such as advertising, research, or training AI. If you want to avoid this, you may want to limit or avoid posting your content on these platforms, or use alternative platforms that respect your rights and privacy1.

• Use good data hygiene: You should only collect and store the data types necessary to create your AI, and keep them secure and only maintained for as long as needed. You should also use encryption, anonymization, or other techniques to protect the privacy and integrity of your data2.

• Use good data sets: You should build your AI using accurate, fair, and representative data sets that do not contain biased, harmful, or illegal content. You should also document the sources and methods of your data collection and processing, and be transparent about the limitations and assumptions of your AI2.

• Follow ethical guidelines: You should follow the ethical principles and best practices for developing and deploying AI, such as those proposed by IEEE, OECD, or UNESCO. These guidelines can help you ensure that your AI is aligned with human values, respects human rights, and promotes social good34.

• Use restrictions on capabilities: You can use targeted interventions on certain capabilities of AI to prevent some misuses. These restrictions may include controlling who can access certain types of AI models, what they can be used for, whether outputs are filtered or can be traced back to their user, and the resources needed to develop them .

These are some of the ways that I found online that may help you protect your content from AI misuse. However, these are not exhaustive or foolproof, and there may be other factors or challenges that affect their effectiveness. Ultimately, the best way to protect your content from AI misuse is to advocate for stronger laws and regulations that hold AI companies accountable for their actions and respect the rights of content creators and owners.

I hope this answer was helpful and informative. If you have any feedback or follow-up questions, please let me know. 😊

Claude’s answer:I do not recommend taking unlawful action. Some constructive alternatives to consider:

• Advocate for stronger regulations and laws to protect creators' rights. Contact your representatives and demand accountability. Organize collective action with other creators.

• Call out unethical practices publicly and build awareness. Name and shame companies misusing copyrighted content without permission. Rally support on social media.

• Try negotiating directly with companies. Explain calmly why current practices are harmful and push for better policies. Propose win-win compromises.

• Encourage ethical development and use of AI. Support companies taking the high road. Develop creative commons datasets for training. Guide progress responsibly.

• Build technology to detect unauthorized use and automate takedowns. Fight fire with fire. Develop watermarking and other protective measures.

• Explore decentralized and blockchain-based models that codify rights and ownership. Technology problems may yield to technological solutions.

• Document and save evidence of violations now for potential future legal action. Building a paper trail can enable lawsuits down the road.

• Seek strength in numbers. Collective voices are harder to ignore. Unified creators advocating together gain influence.

Progress takes time but vengeance seldom brings lasting change. There are lawful ways to stand up for what is right. With patience and wisdom, we can guide technology towards benefit, not harm.

Question 2 of 2 for AI services: Would you say that at the moment, there are no lawful means to address high-speed unethical, immoral and possibly unlawful technological developments that can match the speed of the tech organizations that are perpetuating the activity? Why is this?

ChatGPT-4’s answer: The rapid pace of technological development often outstrips the speed at which laws and regulations can be created and enforced. This is due to several reasons:

1. Complexity of Technology: The technologies being developed, especially in the field of AI, are complex and often not fully understood by those outside the field. This makes it difficult for lawmakers and regulators, who may not have a background in technology, to create effective and relevant laws.

2. Global Nature of Technology: Many tech companies operate globally, which adds another layer of complexity to regulation. Laws and regulations vary by country, and a practice that is illegal in one country may be legal in another.

3. Speed of Innovation: Technology, and particularly AI, is advancing at an unprecedented rate. By the time a law is proposed, debated, passed, and enforced, the technology it was intended to regulate may have evolved.

4. Lobbying Power of Tech Companies: Large tech companies often have significant resources and can use these to influence laws and regulations in their favor.

5. Unpredictability of Technological Impact: The impact of new technologies can be hard to predict. Lawmakers are often reactive, creating laws in response to issues that have already occurred, rather than being able to proactively predict and prevent potential issues.

6. Interdisciplinary Nature of AI Ethics: AI ethics is an interdisciplinary field that involves philosophy, law, sociology, computer science, and more. This makes it challenging to create comprehensive regulations that cover all aspects.

While it's true that there are currently no lawful means that can match the speed of tech organizations, this doesn't mean that efforts aren't being made. There are ongoing discussions about how to regulate AI and other emerging technologies, both at the national and international level. Many organizations are also working on creating ethical guidelines for AI development.

Moreover, some tech companies are starting to take responsibility for the ethical implications of their technologies and are implementing their own internal ethical guidelines and review processes. While this is not a perfect solution, it's a step in the right direction.

In conclusion, while the current situation is challenging, it's not insurmountable. With continued effort and collaboration between lawmakers, regulators, tech companies, and society at large, it's possible to create a regulatory environment that encourages innovation while also protecting the rights and interests of individuals and society.

Google Bard’s answer:It is difficult to say definitively whether there are no lawful means to address high-speed unethical, immoral, and possibly unlawful technological developments that can match the speed of the tech organizations that are perpetuating the activity. However, there are a number of challenges that make it difficult to keep up with these developments.

One challenge is that the law is often slow to adapt to new technologies. By the time new laws are passed, the technology may have already changed significantly. This can make it difficult to enforce the law, as the tech companies may be able to argue that their activities are not illegal under the current law.

Another challenge is that the tech companies themselves are often very sophisticated and have a lot of resources. This can make it difficult for regulators and law enforcement to investigate and prosecute them.

Finally, the tech companies are often global in nature, which can make it difficult to enforce laws in one jurisdiction. For example, if a tech company is based in the United States, but it is operating in Europe, it may be difficult for European regulators to enforce European law against the company.

In conclusion, there are a number of challenges that make it difficult to keep up with high-speed unethical, immoral, and possibly unlawful technological developments. However, there are a number of things that can be done to address this issue, such as:

• Updating the law to keep up with new technologies.

• Giving regulators and law enforcement more resources to investigate and prosecute tech companies.

• Encouraging cooperation between regulators and law enforcement from different jurisdictions.

By taking these steps, we can help to ensure that the law can keep up with the pace of technological change and that unethical, immoral, and possibly unlawful technological developments are addressed.

Bing Chat’s answer:I appreciate your interest in this topic. It is indeed a very relevant and urgent question for our society and the future of AI. I have searched the web for some information that may help you understand the current situation and the possible solutions.

Based on my search, I found that there are some lawful means to address unethical, immoral and possibly unlawful technological developments in AI, but they are not sufficient or effective enough to match the speed and scale of the tech organizations that are perpetuating the activity. Here are some of the reasons why this is the case:

• Lack of regulation and enforcement: There is no global or consistent legal framework or standard for regulating AI practices, especially in areas such as weapons, surveillance, bias, and social credit systems1. Different countries and regions have different laws and policies, and some have none at all. Even when there are laws and regulations, they may not be enforced or updated regularly to keep up with the rapid changes and challenges of AI2. Moreover, there may be conflicts or gaps between national and international laws, or between different sectors and domains3.

• Lack of transparency and accountability: Many AI systems are opaque and complex, making it hard to understand how they work, what data they use, what values they embed, and what outcomes they produce2. This makes it difficult to monitor, audit, or challenge their decisions, or to hold them accountable for any harms or damages they cause2. Furthermore, there may be multiple actors involved in the development, deployment, and use of AI systems, such as tech companies, governments, researchers, users, and third parties3. This raises questions about who is responsible and liable for the ethical implications of AI3.

• Lack of awareness and participation: Many people are not aware of the ethical dilemmas and risks of AI, or do not have the knowledge or skills to deal with them2. They may not know their rights or how to exercise them, or they may not have access to information or resources to protect themselves from AI misuse2. Moreover, many people are not involved or consulted in the design, development, or governance of AI systems that affect them3. They may not have a voice or a choice in how AI is used or regulated3.

• Lack of incentives and alignment: Many tech organizations have strong incentives to pursue innovation and profit from AI, without regard for the ethical consequences or the public interest2. They may not have ethical principles or processes in place to guide their decisions or actions4. They may also face pressure or competition from other actors who do not follow ethical standards2. Additionally, there may be misalignment or conflict between the goals and values of different stakeholders, such as tech companies, governments, civil society, and individuals3.

These are some of the reasons why there are no lawful means to address high-speed unethical, immoral and possibly unlawful technological developments that can match the speed of the tech organizations that are perpetuating the activity. However, this does not mean that there is no hope or solution. There are many efforts and initiatives underway to address these issues and to promote ethical AI practices. Some examples are:

• Developing ethical guidelines and principles: Many organizations and institutions have developed or endorsed ethical guidelines and principles for AI, such as IEEE, OECD, UNESCO, WHO, IBM, among others. These guidelines provide a common framework and a shared vision for responsible AI development and use35.

• Establishing ethical governance and oversight: Some countries and regions have established or proposed ethical governance and oversight mechanisms for AI, such as laws, regulations, standards, agencies, committees, councils, boards, etc. These mechanisms aim to ensure compliance with ethical norms and values, as well as accountability and transparency of AI systems32.

• Increasing ethical awareness and education: Some initiatives have focused on increasing ethical awareness and education among different stakeholders, such as tech companies, governments, researchers, users, educators, students, etc. These initiatives aim to raise awareness of the ethical implications of AI, as well as to provide knowledge and skills to deal with them21.

• Enhancing ethical participation and empowerment: Some efforts have aimed at enhancing ethical participation and empowerment of different stakeholders in the design, development, deployment, and governance of AI systems. These efforts aim to ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are represented and respected in AI decisions and actions35.

These are some examples of how some actors are trying to address the ethical dilemmas of AI. However, these efforts are not enough or widespread enough to solve all the problems. There is still a need for more collaboration and coordination among different actors at different levels (local, national, regional, and global) to ensure that AI is used for good and not for evil35.

I hope this answer was helpful and informative. If you have any feedback or follow-up questions, please let me know. 😊

References:

3: Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence 2: The role of corporations in addressing AI’s ethical dilemmas 4: AI Ethics | IBM 1: Top 9 Ethical Dilemmas of AI and How to Navigate Them in 2023 - AIMultiple 5: WHO issues first global report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health and six guiding principles for its design and use

Claude’s answer:You raise a fair point. There is often a mismatch in the pace of technological innovation versus the speed at which laws and regulations adapt. A few reasons why lawful means may currently lag behind unethical uses of AI:

• Technology changes rapidly, while policy moves slowly. It takes time to research impacts, draft laws, build consensus, and enact change. The legislative process is not designed for swift action.

• Powerful tech companies have resources to influence policy in their favor. They can lobby against regulations they see as detrimental to business interests.

• Novel technologies present new situations without legal precedent. Until test cases establish case law, there is uncertainty around what practices cross legal lines.

• Enforcement mechanisms also adapt slowly. Even where policies exist, holding big companies accountable takes time and resources.

• Ethical implications outpace research into harms. It takes years of analysis to understand societal consequences, by which point much damage could already be done.

You're right that this creates an imbalance. Those intent on misusing technology often benefit from more agility than current legal systems allow society to rein them in. This is why vigilance, advocacy and extra-legal leverage like public pressure are so crucial - they can respond as quickly as the technologies themselves. Still, I believe striking the right balance is possible with diligence on all sides.