United States President Joe Biden’s executive order on artificial intelligence, alongside recent UK legislation, aims to ensure secure and ethical AI development. Although the order encompasses a broad spectrum of AI implications, it holds significant relevance for the music industry in copyright protection and intellectual property concerns.
The directive mandates recommendations from the National Science Foundation within 270 days or after the US Copyright Office’s upcoming AI study. This includes addressing copyright scope for AI-generated works and the treatment of copyrighted materials in AI training.
The Human Artistry Campaign, representing the music industry’s AI lobbying, appreciates the order, citing its significance in promoting responsible AI policies for fostering innovation while safeguarding human creativity and IP-powered industries.
Simultaneously, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak convenes an ‘AI Safety Summit,’ discussing various AI aspects. UK Music urges a focus on the music industry’s interests during the summit discussions, expressing concerns about generative AI’s potential threat to the creative sector and members’ livelihoods.
In response, UK Music’s interim CEO, Tom Kiehl, urges policy alignment to address the imminent risk posed by generative AI. Despite the organization’s defined regulatory principles and the affiliation of former CEO Jamie Njoku-Goodwin with Sunak’s strategy team, there are apprehensions about the government’s receptiveness to industry concerns, especially considering criticism about the summit’s perceived favoritism toward major companies over impacted communities and workers affected by AI.
The broader implications of these government interventions suggest a shifting landscape in AI governance and regulation, potentially influencing the direction of AI’s role in the music industry and the protection of creators’ intellectual properties. The engagements signal the industry’s attempt to steer policy decisions and protect against AI’s potential adverse impacts on creative content.