This week’s (I hope) single round-up of AI in the news has a couple of interesting stories, both highlighting concerns about AI transparency. First up are the results of a new Wiley report on research writers’ use of AI. The report is catchily titled ExplanAItions.
ALLi News Editor, Dan Holloway
Researchers Embrace AI, but Training Lags
It’s really interesting to see that there is a lot of excitement in the research community around the use of AI. These are researchers from all kinds of disciplines, but especially in the medical and mathematical sciences, where there is a feeling that AI can outperform humans and a desire to use it more than happens at present. However, there is also a sense that a lack of available training is holding them back. That’s a very different environment from the one we’re used to in the creative world.
Publishers Call for AI Accountability
Talking of which, the International Publishers Association is one of thirty-eight organizations to come together behind a statement ahead of a big AI summit in Paris. The key parts of the statement are these:
“38 international organizations representing all the creative and cultural sectors are today issuing a call to build a future that reconciles the development of AI with respect for copyright and related rights… There will be no ethical AI without the authorization of rights holders.”
The statement calls on the conference to ensure respect for rights holders. Demands focus on transparency and respect for the rights and decisions of rights holders. And, as is increasingly the case, there is a call for recompense to rights holders through a licensing system. The final call, crucially, is for sanctions against firms that fail to comply with these measures.
These are becoming familiar themes. It’s clear what the creative industries’ representative bodies are consistently calling for. Whether this ever leads to these or any other actual regulations or legislation remains to be seen.
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