The AI arms race is driving tech giants to search for new sources of data to fuel their systems. Meta executives have been meeting almost daily to develop strategies for gathering data, as the power of AI continues to grow. However, the quest for data may lead to copyright violations. There have been suspicions that OpenAI used YouTube to train its video generator, Sora, although OpenAI’s CTO has denied these accusations.
One possible solution considered by Meta was to purchase Simon & Schuster, but others suggested paying $10 per book for licensing rights to new titles. By the time of the meetings, Meta had already summarized many books, essays, and other online works. However, when ethical concerns were raised during the meetings, there was silence from attendees. Meta did not immediately respond to requests for comments from Business Insider.
Ultimately, executives at Meta decided to rely on the precedent set by the Supreme Court case Authors Guild vs. Google in 2015. The court ruled in favor of Google, allowing them to digitize books for Google Books under fair use guidelines. Meta’s lawyers argued that the company could train its AI systems under the same guidelines.
In conclusion, as tech giants continue their race for dominance in AI technology, it is important for them to consider ethical implications and avoid potential copyright violations. While purchasing publishing houses or paying licensing fees may be one option, relying on existing legal precedents can also be a viable solution in this complex landscape.