- Fairly Trained, led by Ed Newton-Rex, evaluates and certifies AI technologies based on creators’ rights.
- Newton-Rex founded Fairly Trained after resigning from Stability AI over its stance on using copyrighted material for AI training.
- Fairly Trained challenges the notion of fair use in AI training, certifying technologies like KL3M from 273 Ventures as copyright infringement-free.
- The organization’s certification expands to include text and speech generation technologies, promoting ethical practices in diverse creative fields.
- Notable supporters include The Authors Guild, SAG-AFTRA, Music Managers Forum–US, and ASCRL.
Main AI News:
In a recent development, the emergence of Fairly Trained, spearheaded by Ed Newton-Rex, has disrupted prevalent perceptions within the AI sector. This non-profit organization, founded by Newton-Rex, seeks to assess and endorse AI technologies based on their adherence to creators’ rights principles.
Newton-Rex, formerly associated with Stability AI and renowned for his role in establishing the music-generation platform Jukedeck, initiated Fairly Trained in response to what he perceived as a fundamental flaw in the industry’s ethical compass. His decision to depart from Stability AI stemmed from the company’s contentious assertion that utilizing copyrighted materials without consent for AI training purposes constituted “fair use” under legal statutes.
This viewpoint, shared by numerous AI enterprises, has come under scrutiny, particularly in light of ongoing litigation, such as the case between Anthropic and Universal Music Group. Newton-Rex vehemently opposes this perspective, citing congressional criteria that highlight the impact of copying on the market value of copyrighted works. He emphasizes the potential of contemporary generative AI models to produce content that competes directly with original copyrighted material, challenging the notion of fair use in this context.
Following the launch of Fairly Trained, the organization swiftly gained momentum. Its recent certification of four AI technologies, including the groundbreaking large language model KL3M developed by 273 Ventures, marks a significant milestone. This certification signals a departure from the prevailing belief that training large language models necessitates extensive use of copyrighted content, effectively debunking a key argument commonly espoused by AI companies.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Fairly Trained expressed optimism regarding the feasibility of certifying large language models, highlighting the absence of inherent barriers preventing developers from respecting creators’ rights. This development underscores the organization’s commitment to fostering a culture of ethical data usage within the AI landscape, laying the groundwork for a future where fairness in training data is the standard practice.
Furthermore, Fairly Trained expanded its certification scope to encompass text and speech generation technologies, exemplified by its endorsement of Voicemod and pioneering music companies such as Infinite Album and Lemonaide. The inclusion of entities like Frostbite Orckings, an “AI band,” underscores the organization’s dedication to promoting ethical practices across diverse creative domains.
This groundbreaking initiative has garnered support from prominent voices in the realm of intellectual property and content creation. The endorsement from esteemed organizations such as The Authors Guild, SAG-AFTRA, Music Managers Forum–US, and the American Society for Collective Rights Licensing (ASCRL) underscores the significance of Fairly Trained’s mission in safeguarding creators’ rights.
In the words of The Authors Guild, “The certification incentivizes AI companies to train on licensed data and centers human creators in the AI landscape. It is an important step towards ensuring human authors have consent and receive compensation from the use of their works in AI training.” This sentiment encapsulates the broader implications of Fairly Trained’s efforts, which extend beyond mere certification to championing ethical norms within the burgeoning AI industry.
Conclusion:
The emergence of Fairly Trained and its certification of AI technologies, including KL3M, signifies a paradigm shift in the AI landscape towards ethical data usage and compliance with creators’ rights. This initiative not only challenges prevailing industry norms but also underscores the growing importance of ethical considerations in AI development. Businesses operating in this market must take note of these developments and align their practices accordingly to remain competitive and uphold ethical standards.
