OpenAI and Google ask for a government exemption to train their AI models on copyrighted material

OpenAI and Google seek copyright exemption for AI model training.

: OpenAI and Google are urging the Trump administration for an exemption allowing AI model training on copyrighted materials. They argue that this would protect America's AI leadership and advocate for government adoption of AI tools. OpenAI faces lawsuits over copyright infringement while asserting AI learning is impossible without such materials. Google's stance aligns with OpenAI, emphasizing balanced copyright rules like fair use for innovation and avoiding arduous negotiations.

OpenAI and Google are advocating for policy changes that would allow them to train artificial intelligence models on copyrighted material. This initiative, addressed to the Trump administration, forms part of their response to the President's AI Action Plan. Announced at the close of February, this plan involves soliciting assessments from private industries to support America's endeavor to maintain its status as an AI frontrunner and catalyze technological advancements.

In their document, OpenAI emphasizes the importance of America's longstanding, comprehensive intellectual property system for fostering global innovation leadership. OpenAI proposes a strategy to extend this system into the Intelligence Age, balancing the rights of content creators and the nation’s AI advancements. To maintain the United States' lead in AI development over countries like China, OpenAI insists on the necessity of allowing AI models to learn from copyrighted resources.

OpenAI also suggests maintaining strict export controls on AI chips to China to safeguard national interests. Furthermore, they stress the importance of widespread government adoption of AI tools, backing this with their launch of a variant of ChatGPT created specifically for US governmental use earlier this year. The document strongly positions OpenAI against potential technological encroachment by China, cautioning against relinquishing the US's AI leadership.

Google’s publication mirrors OpenAI’s, recommending adaptations to copyright rules critical in supporting AI expansion. Google advocates for fair use and text-and-data mining exceptions, arguing they are essential for AI to learn from pre-existing knowledge without heavily impacting the rights of copyright holders. The aim is to streamline the often precarious and extensive negotiation processes with data holders during AI development and research.

While OpenAI is embroiled in several legal disputes over claims of copyright infringement from entities like The New York Times and authors such as George R.R. Martin, it remains vocal about industry challenges. These legal confrontations underscore the complexities of current intellectual property frameworks in an AI-driven world, compelling stakeholders like OpenAI to seek legislative resolutions that align innovation with legislative safeguards.

Sources: Engadget, The Verge

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