The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in entertainment has been THE hot-button issue for years now. Not only is it threatening jobs, but tech companies are also stealing copyrighted artwork to train these systems. Dreamworks’ family film “The Bad Guys 2” has become an unlikely fighter in this battle by placing a warning about AI in the end credits.
“All rights in this work are reserved for purposes of laws in all jurisdictions pertaining to data mining or AI training, including but not limited to Article 4(3) of Directive (EU) 2019/790. This work may not be used to train AI,” it reads.
Eagle-eyed TV journalist Rendy Jones was the first to spot the warning and post it online.
A New Anti-AI Era?
Creators shouldn’t have to say “don’t steal my art,” let alone big companies with massive legal resources. Despite that, many think this will become the new industry standard. This warning gives Dreamworks the ability to take legal action against anyone found using their copyrighted work to train AI. Even though copyrights are intended to prevent theft, the law still lags behind the rapid pace of technological progress. Until it catches up, it’s almost entirely up to artists to protect their own best interests, even ones working for huge studios.
However, we’d also like to remind readers that AI isn’t all unethical and bad for artists. The “Star Trek” short “765874: Unification” is an example of an ethically created AI project. It was made with fully licensed work and the consent of all performers (or their estates) involved. The results show where this technology can take us when used alongside artists.
By nature, most tools are morally neutral, and AI is no exception. It’s all in how it’s utilized.
“The Bad Guys 2” hits theaters on August 1st of this year. In the meantime, you can check out a trailer for the movie below:
