Artists, Platforms Take Stand Against Generative AI with Bans

In the evolving digital landscape, the proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has opened the floodgates of innovation, but it’s also become a rallying point for a growing cohort of online platforms and creators who are voicing their disapproval. They are carving out AI-free spaces, standing firm in the conviction that their content should remain untouched by the algorithms of generative AI companies. Amid this clash, entities such as Seattle’s social network Cara and Philadelphia’s Not By AI are leading the resistance, championing original, human-made content.

Founded in late 2023 by visionary artist and photographer Jingna Zhang, Cara emerged as a bulwark of authenticity in creative spaces, positioning itself as a proponent for human creativity against the influence of generative AI artworks. Zhang’s initiative set out to provide an oasis for artists disillusioned with platforms like DeviantArt and ArtStation, which have hosted AI-generated images.

Zhang conveyed her resolve through a poignant blog post, “I couldn’t wait any longer for ArtStation to change their policy. It seemed like they believed we had no alternative. Well, I decided to create one.” Cara epitomizes a realm where dialogue and education flourish, where the integrity of contributors’ work is defended by default “NoAI” tags on uploaded images, signaling an opt-out from generative AI’s scraping practices.

However, Cara’s noble intentions face the harsh realities of digital content protection. Their own FAQ page acknowledges, “No image on the public web can be truly safeguarded against unethical scraping if those intent on doing so persist.” Though Cara strives to alleviate some of the burdens artists face in defending their creations, its stance is still hemmed in by the limitations that afflict the wider internet.

The rejection of AI is not limited to images. Cara also forbids NFTs that have been created with generative AI, in defiance of what they deem as speculative ventures detached from their community-oriented principles. To reinforce the detection of AI-generated content, Cara enlists the services of an unnamed third party, recognizing their limitations in manually verifying every upload—the endeavor is too Herculean for human hands alone.

In a complementary battle against AI’s reach, Cara partnered with the visionary developers at SAND Lab to work on Glaze, a project with the ambition to thwart AI models from training on artists’ images. Glaze utilizes machine learning to subtly modify digital images—changes unperceivable to us, yet significant enough to confound AI model trainers.

Cara’s mission has clearly resonated with creators worldwide, demonstrated by a surge that saw the platform reach nearly 900,000 users. Such rapid growth, while validating, has also led to technical and financial challenges, as expressed by Zhang in an interview with Wired amidst outages: “It’s been a stressful journey. Our commitment to protecting artistic integrity has resulted in a service provider bill closing in on $100,000 over just six days.”

With a different approach, Not By AI steps in as an ally to creators who wish to underscore the human touch in their content. By offering a subscription-based badge system that creators can feature on their sites, Not By AI facilitates a way for artists, bloggers, and content creators to declare that the bulk of their output—90%—is the product of human effort. Though certain AI applications like inspiration, editing, or translation are accepted, Not By AI encourages a narrative of authenticity around content.

Subscription tiers from Not By AI cater to a broad spectrum of needs, ranging from $5.00 monthly for beginners to $12.00 for enterprises, alongside a direct $99.00 badge option. Not By AI underscores the importance of credibility, urging those using badges commercially to transparently communicate their approach to content creation.

Despite these initiatives, the reality is that online creators continue waging a grueling battle against AI model trainers who edge legal boundaries, often claiming fair use. Legal outcomes have been mixed—some in favor of AI companies, others insufficiently evidential to support claims of copyright infringement. But one thing remains constant: individuals and AI development company leaders, eager for the services of AI consultants Australia New Zealand, must heed the concerns of the artistic community.

Artificial intelligence engineers for hire are creating tools like AI Sales Agent and AI cold caller programs that revolutionize business processes, propelling us towards the future. However, as relayed in the latest ai news & ai agents reports, these advancements also call for alignment with the ethical considerations of content ownership.

The narrative is clear—the defense of human creation in the digital age is not just about fighting against generative AI; it’s about galvanizing a culture that respects and safeguards the ingenuity and labor of artists worldwide. The battle lines have been drawn, and as AI continues to evolve, so too must our commitment to protecting the rights and integrity of human creators.