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Ben Affleck has the ideal solution for copyright issues when it comes to the usage of AI to redo iconic shows like Succession. In an interview with GQ, Affleck stated:
Now, if you’re on Succession, and this is where the guilds I think should negotiate for, you should have the ability on any show, whatever, to say: “I want to opt out of being regenerated.” Because what that means is, well, I may not have said that line or done that.
I’m not comfortable with that, but also you have to say, if I opt in, I should be compensated alongside everyone else who’s making money from this because I’m okay with it. You should be able to dictate that, and there should be clearly delineated residual structures that compensate people for that.
This solution provides fair compensation for all the artists that AI will be trained on, and also gives the choice of consent for the artists whose works will be used. The question of AI using copyrighted content is a subject of never-ending debate as platforms like Sora and Suno are on the rise. One of the biggest strikes in history was to protect Hollywood writers from this problem.
Ben Affleck’s Proposal Echoes the 2023 SAG-AFTRA Strike
Image by Phil Roeder, licensed under CC Attribution 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsBen Affleck’s proposal is quite similar to what the SAG-AFTRA members had their 118-day strike for. SAG-AFTRA is the union representing actors and media professionals, which forged the historic contract, requiring studios to obtain explicit, informed consent before creating or reusing digital replicas of performers, with compensation required for each specific use.
The union established four core principles that echoed Ben Affleck’s proposal:
- Transparency
- Consent
- Compensation
- Control
The SAG-AFTRA Protections are historic and marked a shift in the Hollywood landscape, with its President Fran Drescher, saying:
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We have forged the biggest deal in industry history which broke pattern, established new revenue streams and passed a historic $1 billion plus dollar deal with the most progressive AI protections ever written, I feel pretty confident in saying this is a paradigm shift of seismic proportions!
As the lines blur between what’s real and what’s not, Affleck points out a salient feature that distinguishes AI from humans.
Ben Affleck Calls AI a “Craftsman at Best” and “Not an Artist”
Speaking on CNBC Television, the Hollywood actor and writer claims that AI will never replace human artistry, calling AI a “cross-pollinator.” Affleck stated:
AI is a craftsman at best — craftsmen can learn to make Stickley furniture by sitting down next to somebody and seeing what their technique is and imitating it. … That’s how large language models basically work. But they’re just cross-pollinating things that exist. Nothing new is created. … Craftsman is knowing how to work. Art is knowing when to stop. And I think knowing when to stop is going to be a very difficult thing for AI to learn, because it’s (about) taste.
Affleck added that he hopes AI will be used as an additional revenue stream to replace DVD sales, but didn’t hold back when he claimed the VFX industry will be in trouble.
Do you think this solution would work for artists? Let us know in the comments.
Bhargav Rao is an entertainment writer at FandomWire. As a storyteller, his articles aim to deliver what the fans ask for - unfiltered deep cuts about their favourite subjects. He moonlights as a musician, pushing sonic boundaries and blending genres.
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