The U.K.’s Society of Authors (SoA) is leading an effort of international writers’ organizations and other creative industry bodies to launch a global charter setting out commitments to the responsible and ethical use of generative AI services.
The SoA has teamed with the Creators’ Rights Alliance in the U.K., the Authors Guild in the U.S., the Australian Society of Authors, the Writers’ Union of Canada and the New Zealand Society of Authors to create a Charter of Ethical AI Usein the Creative Industries.
The charter specifically addresses generative AI and how it should be deployed to help protect and support human creators. Its creation, the SoA said, comes as governments across the globe continue to drag their feet in in committing to AI regulation and oversight.
“In the vacuum of any meaningful policy from governments, we have come together to define how generative AI services should be governed to protect and support human creators,” Anna Ganley, CEO of the SoA, said in a statement. “We have been campaigning for years against the unlawful conduct of Big Tech which has shown scant regard for copyright, the risks of unregulated generative AI, and to raise awareness about the inherent risks of this technology, which is not only a danger to human creativity but also to broader society.”
The charter—which can be signed by agents, publishers, and prize bodies—builds on UNESCO’s 10 core principles of responsible AI. It commits signatories to “promote responsible and ethical use of generative AI services,” “comply with the evolving best practice recommendations on AI ethics and governance,” “work mindfully in relation to impact,” and to use AI “for good” in cases when it is used, such as “to widen access, inclusion and opportunity and to increase discoverability.”
The charter has been endorsed by a number of U.K. authors, while the Authors Guild applauded the SoA for taking the leadership on the initiative.
“The AI Ethical Charter contains principles that are necessary guideposts for the publishing industry in navigating the AI landscape,” a Guild spokesperson said.
