Title: OpenAI Faces Class Action Lawsuit for Alleged Theft of Private Data in Pursuit of AI Advancement
OpenAI Inc., the creator of the popular AI language model ChatGPT, is under fire as a group of anonymous individuals filed a class action lawsuit claiming that the company has been unlawfully collecting and utilizing vast amounts of personal data. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI scraped approximately 300 billion words from the internet, including personal information without consent, in its relentless pursuit of profit.
The 157-page lawsuit, filed by the Clarkson Law Firm in a federal court in San Francisco, accuses OpenAI of violating privacy laws and warns of the potential risks of civilizational collapse. While the plaintiffs are described by their occupations or interests, they are identified only by their initials due to concerns of potential backlash. The suit seeks class action status and estimates potential damages of $3 billion, with millions of individuals presumed to have been affected.
The lawsuit claims that OpenAI has deviated from established protocols for the purchase and use of personal information, resorting instead to theft. ChatGPT, along with other OpenAI products, allegedly trains on private information taken from hundreds of millions of internet users, including children, without their consent.
This recent legal battle brings to mind a historical case from the 1960s when the introduction of the Xerox 914 photocopier disrupted the medical publishing industry. The Supreme Court eventually ruled in 1975 that mass photocopying by libraries was fair use, leaving Congress to address the emerging intellectual property issues.
Fast forward to today, and the emergence of generative artificial intelligence, represented by ChatGPT, is causing concern in the entertainment industry. Initially not seen as a threat, the tool’s potential to devalue the work of writers, musicians, and actors has become a sticking point in negotiations amidst an ongoing writers strike. There are worries that AI could even replace creative professionals without intervention from regulators or the courts.
Despite the concerns, Hollywood is embracing the technology, using AI for various purposes such as de-aging actors and collaborating with AI music composition companies. In this evolving landscape, industry players are calling for regulations to safeguard the intellectual property and copyright of creators, emphasizing the need to protect the diverse and dynamic U.S cultural landscape.
The intersection of AI and copyright law has become a focus of attention, particularly in Hollywood, where the rapid advancement of generative AI systems is seen as an existential threat to the livelihood and future of creative professionals. Organizations like the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) stress the urgency to prioritize policies and regulations to preserve the integrity of creative products and ensure fair compensation for creators.
As OpenAI faces legal challenges and discussions on the impact of AI on various industries gain momentum, the outcome of these developments will undoubtedly shape the future of technology, privacy rights, and artistic pursuits.
