1. Why this, why now?
I believe we can create meaningful progress with the way creative people work, collaborate, publish and reap the rewards for their creations. Without question the arrival of generative AI has heated up change in the digital economy that has yet to cascade into the conflagration so many expect, and others call inevitable. But that is not why we are here.
Time and again, no matter the temperature, I’ve seen substantive change take 10 years to take hold. Steven Johnson recounts beautiful examples of this in “Where good ideas come from”. And, yes, the drum-beat of new papers, new ideas, and new results in generative AI is astounding. It is tempting to think that in 3 years *everything* will have changed. But that is not why we are here.
2. It is about lasting change for creative folk
We are here, because in 10 years, we won’t have unseen the first story, the first picture, the first song, the first game that seemed to have come about through the hand of God, or as the result of an infinite number of monkeys at work. In 10 years, generative will be as expected as getting into a ride-sharing vehicle is today, and, if we do it right, it’s the artists that stand to gain the most from what’s ahead.
3. Why the optimism, Hilmar?
The outrage about generative art rightfully comes from original authors feeling robbed. There will be a response, and technology has a role to play to shift the power imbalance away from those who have a near-monopoly on high-value intellectual property. I believe technology must be employed preserve creative’s work, including what happens with it in generative technologies. This is not a call to activism, to shut down these new ideas but to properly trace value and share revenue if accrued.
4. Our cause
With all eyes on generative AI, the pressure to provide a solution to trace value is immense. The system I imagine will allow for separate management of entitlements, of publication, and lastly to employ discriminators (of IP) to become pro-active means rather than defensive methods of tracing value of creations. I have gone too far in an attempt to think this through. It’s hazardous to this alone. I am searching for my tribe.
The digital economy is ablaze with the generative AI dumpster fire. There is something to salvage, so long as we are prepared to play the long game.
5. My bias
My wife and daughter will gleefully assure you that I haven’t met a dumpster unfit for diving into… well, maybe with the exception of those that were on fire.
I seek treasure and thrills. By nature, I see potential in everything. I suffer from acute, systemic sunk-cost fallacy bias. It might come from my deep appreciation of this planet, the life on it, the curious accomplishments of one specific type of great ape.
This is my call to action for the creative tribe.