My position around ai
The use of generative AI is such an issue in the creative space. I continue to have amazing conversations with people who have been so honest and courageous in sharing with me how they feel, and allowing me to share with them how I feel about this issue.
I BELIEVE:
- Using AI art takes work from human artists and creators, many of whom are attempting to make a living from the products they are producing.
- Generative AI moulds products out of STOLEN work, without consent, acknowledgement or compensation.
- The use of AI fails to value the experiences, practice and skill development of artists and creators in their creative journey. There is so much MORE behind any piece than dots on a page. Every piece of writing, art of human creation is back-ended by years, if not decades of practice and sacrifice.
HOWEVER:
My goal is traditional publishing. Traditional publishing means you work with a publisher to make decisions. Contracts are signed years before something hits the shelf.
I am so grateful for all the publishing companies and magazines who have, and are, supporting me. Every one of these are run with huge amount of volunteer hours, often (if not always) from their home or garage, with their own money, by people who do this for the love of reading and readers, with the goal to support their authors.
Some publishers and magazines have given me a choice on whether my work is set against by AI Art or not. I will always choose to use non-AI art. I have worked with, and will continue to work with magazines, publishers and creative spaces that have different opinions about the use of generative AI than myself. I respect them, their position and their right to decide how they position their business.
HOW I AM POSITIONING MY BUSINESS:
- I will never use generative AI for any part of the creation or editing of any story, ever.
- Where there's a choice to use non-AI art (or non AI-editing software) I will always choose the non-generative-AI option.
- I will use whatever teeny tiny privilege I have as a fledgling author to advocate for magazines and publishers to offer a choice to use non-AI images.
- I will make every effort to negotiate human created art, particularly in book covers, particularly where there is a royalty arrangement (where myself and the publisher continue to make money off the sale of that book).
- The use of AI art in a book cover will suppress my creation of promotional and swag material related to that book.
- I will start conversations about this issue is any space I am privileged enough to be standing in.
- I will continue to learn about the programs I am using, including the ones I use to create content, to try and steer away from generative AI Art where this is an option. I hope this will become easier as more and more people take a position around this and programs offer a choice.
- I will contribute to, support and promote only human only art and writing. You do you, boo, but I will not purchase, submit to or collaborate with spaces that accept or include generative AI assisted or produced writing. At the same time, I will not be engaging in accusations, witch-hunts, bullying or piling on behaviour.
AND...
I will continue to have amazing conversations with courageous, caring people in all creative and publishing spaces about this issue. I commit to listening and learning. Do you have some ideas of other things I could do to add to this list? Drop me a line, pop by and chat to me at an event. I am always open to hearing any opinion and I would love to know what you think :-)