A proposed class action has been filed by a group of visual artists against Google, alleging that the tech giant’s text-to-image artificial intelligence (AI) tool, Imagen, learns by copying significant quantities of copyrighted artworks without obtaining requisite authorization. This is the most recent legal action questioning the use of comprehensive datasets for AI training.
According to a report by Law360, the plaintiffs have accused Google of using “enormous amounts” of copyrighted materials from artists to train its AI tool, enabling it to generate images based on written descriptions.
These allegations add to the growing concerns around how AI technology uses and potentially infringes upon existing copyrights, which include a wide array of sectors, from the music industry to literature and visual arts.
As this proposed class action progresses, it highlights the need for continued legal examination and clarification around the intersection of AI technology and intellectual property rights, particularly as AI continues to be a rapidly evolving field.