LONDON — A brand new album referred to as “Is This What We Want?” contains a stellar listing of greater than 1,000 musicians — and the sound of silence.
With contributions from British artists together with Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Cat Stevens and Damon Albarn, the album was launched Tuesday to protest proposed British adjustments to synthetic intelligence legal guidelines that artists concern will erode their artistic management.
The UK authorities is consulting on whether or not to let tech corporations use copyrighted materials to assist prepare AI fashions until the creators explicitly decide out.
Critics of the thought concern that can make it tougher for artists to retain management of their work and can undermine Britain’s artistic industries.
Elton John and Paul McCartney are amongst those that have spoken out in opposition to the plan.
The protest album options “almost silence,” mentioned composer and AI developer Ed Newton-Rex, who organized the album.
The 12 tracks include recordings of empty studios and efficiency areas, “to symbolize what we expect will happen if the government’s proposals go through.”
“It’s a mix of artists that everyone’s heard of and, you know, and many musicians who are not household names,” he informed The Related Press. “And I think that’s really important because this issue is going to affect all of us.”
The titles of the 12 tracks spell out: “The British government must not legalize music theft to benefit AI companies.”
Income shall be donated to the musicians’ charity Assist Musicians.
“The government’s proposal would hand the life’s work of the country’s musicians to AI companies, for free, letting those companies exploit musicians’ work to outcompete them,” Newton-Rex mentioned.
“It is a plan that would not only be disastrous for musicians, but that is totally unnecessary,” he mentioned. “The UK can be leaders in AI without throwing our world-leading creative industries under the bus.”
Britain’s center-left Labour Social gathering authorities says it desires to make the UK a world chief in AI.
In December, it introduced a session into how copyright regulation can “enable creators and right holders to exercise control over, and seek remuneration for, the use of their works for AI training” whereas additionally making certain “AI developers have easy access to a broad range of high-quality creative content.”
The session closes on Tuesday.
Publishers, artists’ organizations and media corporations, together with The Related Press, have banded collectively because the Inventive Rights in AI Coalition to oppose weakening copyright protections.
A number of UK newspapers ran wraparounds over their entrance pages on Tuesday, criticizing the federal government session and saying: “Let’s protect the creative industries — it’s only fair.”
The British authorities mentioned in an announcement that it was “consulting on a new approach that protects the interests of both AI developers and right holders and delivers a solution which allows both to thrive.” It added that “no decisions have been taken.”
