Graphic by Davian Arvizu, Graphic Designer
By Noelle Chase, Staff Writer
For centuries, we as a people have evolved to use our natural creativity. We could not have made it this far without it. Every question has an answer, and innovation is what makes us seek it out. However, there will always be a voice in the back of our minds asking us ‘What If?’
How can our world become more connected than ever before? What if we continue to keep asking questions? What can we create?
One of these developments is what you may know today is YouTube. Some might remember when YouTube was created as an online platform to allow for a new and fresh type of creative to flourish as a staple in the digital world. One that relies on an online presence instead of an external one. YouTube quickly developed into a powerhouse of entertainment due to its accessibility. Now that accessibility might be feeding into evolution’s decay.
In recent years, topics such as AI have come to the forefront of discussions. Last year, the Writer’s Guild of America went on strike. One of their many reasons was concerns about AI being used in the writer’s room. Many artists have been vocal about how text-to-image AI steals work from artists to feed its software. Now, YouTube is at stake.
Technology has developed to generate creative videos from text. AI that can generate anything needs something to learn from. Why take the time to make videos yourself when you can save time by just having someone do it for you?
At Runway, the company behind the AI Gen-3 Alpha, made an active effort to train AI technology. This has become known after journalists of 404 Media managed to leak a spreadsheet for training the AI. This can be considered as well-organized content theft.
But why, you may ask, is it considered theft if YouTube videos are available to the public? According to YouTube’s terms and services, they do not allow for transcripts or video bits to be downloaded. This leaves content creators and their work vulnerable to this advanced technology. Creators put extreme effort into providing their audience with the best content they can make. Unfortunately, the editors and writers are often left vulnerable and outraged by having their hard work diminished by AI. When your content is a collage of pieces that belonged to others, is it yours?
The question ‘What If?’ is a driving factor for humanity. A simple question creates a complex web that spans generations. Until the day an AI can ask this question without prompts or seek answers without being told, then it is unable to create. The death of the creative is something that is very well possible if we allow AI companies to diminish human efforts. If you are ever tempted to use these tools, ask yourself one question: Is my convenience worth undermining someone else’s effort?
