Recently, a collective protest against the misuse of artificial intelligence technology has erupted in the U.S. arts and culture sector. According to IT Home, citing foreign media reports, about 800 renowned creative professionals from the fields of literature, film, and music have issued a joint statement, publicly condemning AI companies for unauthorized collection of original content during model training and labeling it as "an unprecedented theft."
This joint action is named "Stealing Is Not Innovation," and the list includes an impressive lineup. It features literary giants such as George Saunders and Jodi Picoult, as well as Hollywood A-list stars like Cate Blanchett and Scarlett Johansson, and representatives from the music industry such as the band R.E.M. These creators collectively believe that technology companies driven by profit are seeking commercial dominance by extensively collecting and copying creative works on the Internet, without ever obtaining permission from the authors or providing any compensation.
The statement further points out that this illegal exploitation of intellectual property is triggering a chain reaction: the Internet is being flooded with misinformation, deepfakes, and large amounts of low-quality "AI garbage." This adverse information environment could potentially lead to systemic failures in AI models themselves, and in the long run, it will weaken the country's global competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence.
This initiative was launched by the "Human Artistry Movement" and has received support from the Recording Industry Association of America, the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), and multiple professional sports leagues. Participants have clearly stated their core demands: a comprehensive AI training authorization mechanism and enforcement system must be established, and creators must be given clear rights to decide whether their works can be included in AI's "appetite."
Currently, there is a struggle between regulators and the industry. Although the White House and some tech giants are trying to limit local regulatory authority, signs of market division have already emerged. Some record companies and digital media have begun to attempt separate licensing agreements with AI companies, replacing legal confrontation with paid cooperation. This shift also indicates that the industry is struggling to find a new balance between protecting copyright and promoting technological advancement.
