The Technology Secretary yesterday admitted that AI is ‘not flawless’ – but defended snubbing attempts to beef-up copyright protections.
Peter Kyle acknowledged the fast-emerging technology ‘does lie’ as he insisted the Government would ‘never sell downstream’ the rights of artists in the UK.
He also admitted ‘mistakenly’ saying his preferred option on AI and copyright was requiring rights-holders to ‘opt out’ of their material being used by Big Tech.
Sir Elton John last week described the situation as an ‘existential issue’. He has also branded the Technology Secretary ‘a moron’.
Mr Kyle has been accused of cosying up to Big Tech chiefs, meeting with Apple, Google, Amazon and Meta – Facebook‘s owner – ten times in little more than three months.
The Government is locked in a standoff with the House of Lords, which demands artists be offered immediate copyright protection as an amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill. Without this, the new law would hand a copyright exception to firms developing AI.
Critics warn the Government’s proposed ‘opt out’ system would allow the current ‘Wild West’ set-up, in which copyrighted material can be ‘scraped’ from the internet to ‘train’ AI models, to continue.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle (pictured) acknowledged the fast-emerging technology ‘does lie’ as he insisted the Government would ‘never sell downstream’ the rights of artists in the UK
Sir Elton John (pictured) last week described the situation as an ‘existential issue’. He has also branded the Technology Secretary ‘a moron’
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Kyle said: ‘I mistakenly said [the opt-out clause] was my preferred option… I’ve now gone back to the drawing board on that.’ When asked about the risk of AI producing unreliable content, Mr Kyle said: ‘AI is not flawless… AI does lie, as it’s based on human characteristics.’
The Government has said it will address copyright issues after the 11,500 responses to its consultation on AI’s impact have been reviewed, rather than in what it has branded ‘piecemeal’ legislation such as the Lords’ amendment.
UK film industry jobs at risk in tech revolution
By Daily Mail Reporter
The use of AI in the UK screen sector risks jobs, copyright breaches and creative integrity, a report has warned.
The British Film Institute report, which analysed how the sector is using the technology, warned the industry must safeguard human creative control, with job losses likely as roles are replaced by AI.
It warned that the ‘primary issue’ is the use of copyrighted material – such as film and TV scripts – in the training of AI models, without payment or the permission of rights-holders. The issue has been highlighted by the Mail’s ‘Don’t let Big Tech steal it‘ campaign, which calls for the Government to protect the UK’s creative genius.
Rishi Coupland, the BFI’s director of research and innovation, said: ‘AI could erode traditional business models, displace skilled workers and undermine trust in screen content.’
