US urges G20 countries to allow AI training on creators' work

The United States has urged G20 nations to establish rules governing how artificial intelligence companies utilize copyrighted material for training their algorithms, amid a surge in lawsuits from creators alleging misuse of their work by tech firms. Companies such as Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Meta are currently facing legal action from authors, publishers, media organizations, and other creators who claim their work was improperly used to develop AI products.

These tech companies train their AI models by consuming vast datasets, which often include books, music, and art. They assert that employing such material to construct their AI tools is permissible under existing laws.

During a tech-focused meeting in North Carolina, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick conveyed to G20 officials that they should permit AI companies to train their models using creators' work while simultaneously finding a means to safeguard artists. He advocated for frameworks that respect the rights of creators and inventors, fostering economic growth without imposing barriers that hinder future innovation. However, Lutnick did not provide specifics on how to achieve this objective.

The U.S. Justice Department simultaneously filed a brief in support of OpenAI in its legal dispute with the New York Times and several other newspapers over OpenAI's utilization of their work to train the language models powering ChatGPT. The department argued that AI training generally constitutes a fair use of copyrighted material.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined Lutnick in discussing these matters prior to Lutnick's speech. Huang cautioned G20 officials against crafting regulations focused on theoretical harms, instead urging them to develop rules addressing real-world issues related to AI technology. His remarks mirrored those of the Trump administration and other American tech executives who addressed the gathering on Tuesday.

Government regulations, according to Huang, could negatively impact the industry's profitability if they delay the release of new models or prompt companies to modify their products to address security concerns. Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown, Palantir's Alex Karp, and OpenAI's Sam Altman were among the speakers scheduled for the afternoon. The CNA channel encourages readers to stay informed with breaking news and top stories via their preferred chat app.