The Urgent Call for Ethical Creator Compensation in the AI Economy
Published by: Dr. Carlton Reeves, Co-Founder
In today's digital landscape, where the boundaries between human creativity and technological innovation are blurred, the need to ethically compensating creators, subject matter experts, and thought leaders is becoming an urgent issue. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries and redefine the way content is generated, distributed, and repurposed – creators find themselves navigating uncharted territory, grappling with the implications of technology's rapid advancement on their livelihoods and intellectual property rights.
One of the most pressing challenges facing creators in the AI era is the proliferation of platforms and companies that exploit copyrighted work without fair compensation. You might have seen the recent cease and desist from Scarlett Johansson to Open AI after Sam Altman used her voice without her consent (blatantly ignoring her refusal, until she took legal action).
The trend of large language models and AI companies profiting from creators' intellectual property without proper authorization has become troublingly common. This not only undermines the efforts of creators but also erodes the foundations of ethical content creation and distribution.
Creativity deserves a focus on ethics
The consequences of unethical practices extend far beyond financial loss for creators; they undermine the very fabric of creative integrity and innovation. When AI companies exploit copyrighted work for the training of their large language models without proper compensation, they stifle the incentive for creators to continue producing original content. This not only hampers the diversity and richness of creative expression, but also stifles the growth of emerging talents and marginalized voices who rely on fair compensation to sustain their careers.
Most urgently, the prevalence of unethical practices perpetuates a culture of disregard for intellectual property rights, normalizing the exploitation of creators' work for commercial gain. This poses a significant threat to the future of creativity and innovation, as creators become increasingly disillusioned and disempowered in an environment that fails to uphold their rights and value their contributions.
In this context, the importance of ethically compensating creators cannot be overstated. It's a matter of safeguarding the principles of fairness, respect, and recognition for the creative labor that enriches our lives and fuels cultural progress. As consumers and stakeholders in the digital ecosystem, we have a responsibility to demand accountability from AI companies using these large language models and advocate for ethical practices that prioritize the rights and well-being of creators.
An ethical solution emerges
Enter ProtégéAI, an AI platform that is revolutionizing the way creators are being ethically compensated for their copyrighted work. ProtégéAI has developed an innovative AI platform that ensures creators and publishers receive fair, just, and moral compensation for every interaction with their content. Drawing inspiration from the transparent and industry-leading models employed by streaming services to compensate musicians and record companies, ProtégéAI has created a system that tracks and monetizes interactions of copyrighted content in a manner that is both transparent and equitable.
Through ProtégéAI’s platform, creators and publishers have full visibility into how their copyrighted content is being consumed and how they are being compensated, empowering them to make informed decisions about their creative endeavors. This platform allows creators to take control of which copyrighted content they want the AI to use and which content is off limits. By implementing an industry- first transparent compensation model, ProtégéAI not only ensures that creators receive their rightful share of revenue but also fosters trust and accountability within the digital ecosystem.
For example, AskMary is just one of many Protégé’s, where we’ve partnered with published mental health and relationship experts such as Dr. Pepper Schwartz (who we interviewed in our last essay) to scale their ability to help people on a relationship journey through SMS texting.
Supporting platforms like ProtégéAI is essential in fostering a sustainable and equitable creative economy. By embracing ethical compensation practices and advocating for the rights of creators, we can create a future where creativity thrives, innovation flourishes, and creators are valued as the cornerstone of cultural expression. As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding the principles of fairness, respect, and integrity in all aspects of content creation and distribution.
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