Paul McCartney warns AI 'could take over' as UK debates copyright laws

[highplainsdem]

Source: Guardian

Paul McCartney has backed calls for laws to stop mass copyright theft by companies building generative artificial intelligence, warning AI “could just take over”.

The former Beatle said it would be “a very sad thing indeed” if young composers and writers could not protect their intellectual property from the rise of algorithmic models, which so far have learned by digesting mountains of copyrighted material.

He spoke out amid growing concern that the rise of AI is threatening income streams for music, news and book publishers. Next week the UK parliament will debate amendments to the data bill that could allow creators to decide whether or not their copyrighted work can be used to train generative AI models.

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In a statement supporting a campaign for creatives to get paid by the AI companies using their work, McCartney said: “We[’ve] got to be careful about it because it could just take over and we don’t want that to happen particularly for the young composers and writers [for] who, it may be the only way they[’re] gonna make a career. If AI wipes that out, that would be a very sad thing indeed.”

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/dec/10/paul-mccartney-ai-warning-uk-debates-copyright-laws

[Shermann]

1. AI lacks one important ability

AI doesn't know when something is cool. All great bands have at least one member (sometimes more) who has a keen sense of coolness. AI can only mash up a bunch of songs that were cool at one point, and without adding any new creativity. OK so AI lacks two important abilities.

[The Grand Illuminist]

8. But if people take advantage using ai.

It becomes a marketing tool. Something which music doesn't need. The best songs are those that come from the human heart.

[cstanleytech]

2. I firmly believe that AI has more potential benefits than it has of risks if it's handled correctly.

That means we treat it with respect as well because if it's actually sentient then it should be treated like we would want it to treat us.

[msongs]

3. yeah great let sentient AI treat humans the way humans treat each other lol nt

[cstanleytech]

4. I said as we would "want" to be treated and not many people want to be slapped around.

[Boomerproud]

6. I don't trust people to use it wisely and for good.

Look at the sewage social media has become.

[cstanleytech]

7. All we can really do is hope as development of AI is being done worldwide and it's not going to stop.

[nuxvomica]

5. AI cannot know pain

Without an understanding of pain there can be no true creativity. I wrote a sci-fi story published years ago about android clowns that were too creepy to be truly funny until the engineers figured out a way for them to feel pain. To me, understanding pain and death is the hurdle that will forever separate living organisms from machines and algorithms. We already know how dangerous it is to have invulnerable entities like corporations treated as persons, we should be especially wary of treating anything artificial that way.