Devaluing content created by AI is lazy and ignores history

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the growing prevalence of AI-generated content and the need for transparency in how it is used. It argues against the idea of completely rejecting AI-generated content, and instead advocates for being upfront about its use.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Devaluing content created by AI is lazy and ignores history

1. What is the author's view on the rejection of AI-generated content?

• The author argues that the ideological stance of completely rejecting any media with AI-generated content is a "false hope" and that this approach needs to change.
• The author suggests that the answer is not to hide from machine learning, but to be honest about its use.

2. What example does the author provide to illustrate the issue?

• The author wanted to use AI voice synthesis software to create unique voices for the major chatbots (ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini) for an audiobook recording, but the publisher said Audible would not allow it due to their anti-AI policy.

3. What is the author's view on Audible's policy?

• The author suggests that Audible's policy is a "stopgap" rather than a sustainable solution, as it becomes increasingly difficult to differentiate between human and synthetic voices.

[02] The need for transparency in AI-generated content

1. What does the author propose as a solution?

• The author's colleague, Sally Dominguez, has advocated for a "Trust Triage" - a dial that slides between "100 percent AI-generated" and "fully artisanal human content" for all media. This would allow for transparency about the media process and product.

2. What does the author say we should have demanded earlier?

• The author states that we should have demanded transparency when our social media feeds went algorithmic, instead of getting "secrecy and surveillance, dark patterns and addiction."

3. What does the author urge us to do in this "brief and vanishing moment"?

• The author urges us to begin a practice of labelling all the media we create, and to suspiciously interrogate any media that refuses to provide details about its origins.