A major sticking point during the Hollywood strikes in 2023 was the use of artificial intelligence. The agreements they reached had provisions about how an actor’s digital likeness was used, including compensation. However, that is only one-half of the fight over AI. Last week, The Atlantic revealed that Facebook’s parent company, Meta, illegally used more than 7.5 million published works to train their new AI model, Llama3.
Millennial darling Joseph Gordon-Levitt started a Substack last month called Joe’s Journal. He brings up topics on his mind including the use of AI in the entertainment industry and beyond. It’s a nuanced post in which he reveals that his wife used to work for OpenAI, acknowledges that some AI can be used for good, but also warns of the existential threat it poses to all creators. As a follow-up, Joseph sat down with People to go into more detail.
Why do a Substack: “I’ve always been a big user of technology to connect with community and audiences,” says Gordon-Levitt, noting that he’s “less and less inspired” by algorithm-driven social media. “Substack feels it’s just a new great way of going back to the basics.”
A warning about AI companies not being on the level: “The entertainment industry might be the canary in the coal mine, but everybody with jobs throughout almost any industry in our whole economy has to be paying attention to how this technology is evolving. Anybody whose work is delivered on a computer, that data can be sucked up by these [AI] companies. And what they’re currently saying is, ‘Hey, we don’t have to pay you’ … To me, this sets a really bad precedent.”
Make it good but fair: The Killer Heat star is quick to add that AI can be a tool for good. “When I think about the upsides of what this technology could do, it’s super exciting,” he says. But, he reiterates, “if it’s going to be good for everybody and not just good for a few big businesses, then it’s got to be set up in a fair way.”
He’s not the only actor ringing alarm bells: Many of his Hollywood screen partners agree. Friend and Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne recently led an open letter, signed by the likes of Mark Ruffalo, Aubrey Plaza and Cynthia Erivo, urging the government to uphold copyright laws amid the loosening of AI regulations. Gordon-Levitt’s Don Jon costar Scarlett Johansson spoke out last month about the “1000-foot wave coming” after her likeness was used against her will, denouncing “the misuse of A.I., no matter what its messaging” in a statement.
It’s going to be worse than social media: The dangers of AI also constitute a newsletter topic because of the implications the tech holds for children, Gordon-Levitt points out. “Ask any parent, ‘What do you think of the way your kid relates to social media?’ Everyone’s worried,” he says. “AI is going to be like social media, but a lot more powerful. And a lot worse… There’s concrete proof that a lot of the biggest technology companies today target kids in a merciless way.”
Like Joseph, I think that AI can be used for good in the right space and place, like with some of Alexa’s functions or a roomba. But just like with everything else, it desperately needs to be regulated. He’s right about how cavalier companies are about stealing IP, too. Meta claims that they stole all of those published works because they didn’t want to wait for permission. You know, one of those “ask for forgiveness later” situations. (If you’re a published author, you can use The Atlantic’s database to search for your name.) Well, you can’t unring that bell and, despite all the pending lawsuits, it’s unlikely there will be consequences. It’s unethical and it’s gross. People deserve to be paid for their work. I have no idea how to stop it other than seriously enacting and enforcing regulations.
photos credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon, T. Jackson/Backgrid, Getty Images for Netflix
The billionaires that have taken control of everything from the food supply on up don’t want to pay anyone for anything and expect all our money and assets to go directly to them with as much price gouging as possible. Listening to the magats cheer as the economy crashes and burns/thousands are laid off make me wonder what the future looks like for any of us. What do the idiots think people will do for a living? It is nice to see a well known person speak out articulately because the AI world being created by muskrat et al isn’t one we want.
I searched the database and found they’d used my journal article. It was open access because I wanted people to be able to use it to improve clinical care. I did not want Zuckerberg using it.
That stinks. One of my books is in the database as well. Is there a class-action suit we can join?
We start with the premise there is nothing new under the sun going form there these AI companies are going around Harvesting people hard work, What does the future look like if we are just harvesting ideas already in circulation. we want the next big invention, and not just a variation of something that already existed, Who knew Facebook would be so important in keeping in touch with friends and family in far flung places or replacing what used to be called having a pen pal. I love reading, but who wants to read the same story with a slightly different twist where is the next Ulyss coming from or War & peace or the english patient, are we now going to discount our own experiences in favour of what AI shoves down our throats. why does one persons work appeal to some and not others. the objective is not to please everyone but to find your tribe. the ingredients for painting can be the same but what comes from the mind of any individual is priceless .Advances in Medicine, Engineering are not to be discounted but the Human element always wins out.
One of the major problems in this field is the number of myths and misconceptions surrounding it. People hear ‘AI’ and they think ‘the star trek computer! I can vaguely describe what I need and magic will happen!’
This isn’t even remotely close to true but the idea remains.
As ever, JGL is excellent. Darn it, I might actually have to crack and spend money on substack.
Don’t worry, the JGL substack is completely free! There’s no paid tier
Google is not owned by Meta. Meta owns FB, Instagram, WhatApp, etc.
Alphabet owns Google.
Was going to post the same thing.
I doubt this will make a difference, but I deliberately skip right past Google AI answer when using Google-search. Wikipedia has its problems, but at least the input is human. I’ve tried to get family + friends to do the same.
It is hard to ignore it because it’s so prominent.
Totally unethical. I’m glad people are speaking up (even if nothing will happen)…
Checked. I’m on the list. F— Zuck.