“SAG-AFTRA Members Protest AI Threat to Audio and Video Art at ‘Occupy for Fairness’ Rally in Times Square”
On July 25, 2023, members of SAG-AFTRA, the largest union in Hollywood, gathered in Times Square, New York for a “Occupy for Fairness” demonstration and rally. Amidst the crowd, a protester stood with a sign declaring “AI has no soul,” symbolizing the concerns of many within the industry.
Fast forward to April 3, 2024, when reports from The Epoch Times shed light on the escalating fears within the film and music industry with the rise of artificial intelligence tools such as AI Sora, Suno, and Voice Engine. These tools, developed by OpenAI, have sparked both excitement and apprehension within the creative community.
Of particular concern is the impact of AI Sora on the audio and video art creators. OpenAI’s recent release of videos generated by AI Sora has left many industry professionals in awe of the technology‘s capabilities. Renowned figures like Paul Trillo and Nik Kleverov have successfully incorporated AI Sora into their work, leading to groundbreaking results that challenge the traditional norms of filmmaking.
Similarly, Suno’s ability to generate songs from simple text inputs has sent shockwaves through the music industry. While some praise the efficiency and innovation brought by AI-generated music, others like Brian Hiatt express concerns over the potential loss of human emotion and creativity in music production.
The introduction of Voice Engine further fuels the debate surrounding AI’s role in shaping the future of audio content. This tool, capable of synthesizing natural speech based on snippets of a person’s voice, opens up possibilities for language translation and audio manipulation. However, the risks associated with voice manipulation, especially during sensitive periods like elections, raise alarms among experts and officials alike.
As the industry grapples with the implications of AI technology, voices like independent writer Zhuge Mingyang caution against the unchecked advancement of AI at the expense of human creativity and spiritual values. The ongoing dialogue between innovation and ethics underscores the complex relationship between technology and art in an ever-evolving landscape.
With a deepening divide between proponents and skeptics of AI integration in creative industries, the future of audio and video art hangs in the balance, awaiting a resolution that safeguards both innovation and human expression.