I wrote this in response to another post - but I think it's an important enough topic to warrant its own post, so I am repeating it here: This post really stirs the pot - doesn't it? Most of us are on one side of the fence or the other regarding AI. Even though I am also an engineer - I am firmly against AI for any creative endeavors. So much so, when I found out the graphic artist I hired used AI for the first book in my fantasy trilogy, I hired a different graphic artist to redo the cover with no AI. My graphic design costs doubled, but I felt it important to stand for my beliefs. None of my work (book covers for my books, my manuscripts, and audio books) will utilize AI in its creation. Amazon is offering to select authors an AI-driven opportunity for free Audible creation. I spent $1500 on my Audible by hiring voice talent for my science fiction novel, so I can tell you how tempting that was - but I said no thanks.
I get it - AI allows us to do some things we may not be able to afford otherwise - but for me (and I was recently laid off, so my budget is always a priority), I have to say no to AI. I will wait for an audio book for my fantasy book for if/when I can afford it. As a creative - I challenge all of us to reject anything AI driven. We need to do the hard work and collaborate with one another - not allow a computer algorithm to take the place of our humanity and our creative souls. I have worked in IT, and I can tell you with certainty that they are proceeding ahead with AI solutions because it is trending and bringing in the money - but no one understands the ethical consequences that will result from this irresponsible behavior.
The CEO of the Authors Guild, Mary Rasenberger, was recently published in the LA Times and writes, “We cannot trust tech companies that swear their innovations are so important that they do not need to pay for one of the main ingredients — other people’s creative works. The “better future” we are being sold by OpenAI and others is, in fact, a dystopia. It’s time for creative professionals to stand together, demand what we are owed, and determine our own futures.”
If you haven't thought about the ramifications of AI on the creativity community, I hope you will do so. All of our futures depend on being in solidarity with one another as we strive to provide what only we can uniquely produce as artists/creatives - to a world in desperate need of entertainment (film, books, art, music) that can provide a welcome distraction from these troubling times.
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Bill McCormick It was frustrating to be sure. And that experience brings home the point that we must educate our fellow creatives on what AI is and the potential it has for harming the creative arts i...
Expand commentBill McCormick It was frustrating to be sure. And that experience brings home the point that we must educate our fellow creatives on what AI is and the potential it has for harming the creative arts industry.
I had no idea what Midjourney was when the cover artist created it. I am always careful to have the proper licensing in place for my work and when I inquired as to whether there were any elements of the book cover I needed to obtain a commercial license for (in case they used part or all of a stock photo which is common practice with some designers and is perfectly acceptable - those artists that created the stock images get compensated when I purchase the commercial license, and you can specify to your designer not to use any stock images generated with AI), they replied that I already owned the licensing because it was done through Midjourney. I had no idea at the time what that was!
From https://ec-pr.com/using-midjourney-ai-images-commercially-what-you-need-... "So far, AI tools are ‘trained’ by accessing images on the web free of charge, including data-mining images that may have already been created and copyrighted painstakingly by the artists." I don't own the copyright or commercial license to the work of those artists (I wouldn't even know how to find them). So, I truly do not own the rights to that cover. It may be regarded as in the public domain right now - but who knows what court rulings will be in the future?
We are so young in this technology and so many of us are focused on our art in whatever form, that we may be unaware of what is going on around us regarding AI. I didn't understand what Midjourney was until later - after I paid for a cover and published it. So, I think it's really important to have these conversations to raise awareness. AI has its uses - but not as a tool to replace human creations. Only work that is created by human authors is copyrightable - not AI - which brings a whole other level to the impact of AI on the artist using it, and their audience.
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Nancy Golden what kills me is that people are charging for AI art. It's like being in an an alley and some dude says, "I got hot radios, catalytic converters, and AI art." You are literally paying som...
Expand commentNancy Golden what kills me is that people are charging for AI art. It's like being in an an alley and some dude says, "I got hot radios, catalytic converters, and AI art." You are literally paying someone to steal on your behalf. I did use AI to create part of my pitch deck, but am very clear in the credits as to what came from where. For things like a pitch deck AI's a convenient tool. But, once people start charging for it, it feels like they're making me pay to watch them use Grammarly.
https://billmcscifi.com/tbr6.pdf
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Bill McCormick I tried to open your pdf, but it wouldn't load. I was using MS Edge - it may be a browser issue. I did enjoy checking out your webpage - congrats on your many accomplishments! I wound u...
Expand commentBill McCormick I tried to open your pdf, but it wouldn't load. I was using MS Edge - it may be a browser issue. I did enjoy checking out your webpage - congrats on your many accomplishments! I wound up on your Goodreads page and read about your Kirkus review and just had to pause and celebrate with you. I just received my Kirkus Review for Alien Neighbors and it's wonderful - with a recommendation to "Get It"! I always have to explain to people that Kirkus is one of the most reputable names in the book reviewing sector, so it's super cool to share with you since you already understand the significance (and how hard it is to get a positive Kirkus review!!). From my Kirkus review: "The rare SF yarn that emphasizes the positive." https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/nancy-golden/alien-neighbors/
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Yeah, Nancy Golden, Edge isn't really the best thing going. Try Chrome or Firefox. I'm glad you enjoyed the site and congrats on your Kirkus review as well. This was my second and it still gives me th...
Expand commentYeah, Nancy Golden, Edge isn't really the best thing going. Try Chrome or Firefox. I'm glad you enjoyed the site and congrats on your Kirkus review as well. This was my second and it still gives me the warm fuzzies.
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Nancy Golden Yes, you're right that the Authors Guild has been heavily involved in challenging AI companies' use of authors' copyrighted works to "train" their generators.