Today in Focus

The authors taking on Mark Zuckerberg

10 snips
Apr 21, 2025
In this thought-provoking discussion, guests Ella Creamer, a Books reporter at The Guardian, AJ West, a best-selling historical fiction author, and Kate Moss, acclaimed author and founder of the Women's Prize for Fiction, delve into the ethical storm surrounding Meta's use of copyrighted materials for AI training. They reveal the emotional and financial toll on authors, share insights from protests against copyright violations, and explore the urgent need for stronger protections in the publishing industry. The conversation raises critical questions about creativity and accountability in the digital age.
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ANECDOTE

Author's Shock Over AI Training

  • AJ West discovered his own books were among those used without permission to train Meta's AI model LLAMA.
  • The revelation was an emotional shock, highlighting the personal impact of unauthorized AI training.
INSIGHT

AI Threatens Authors' Livelihoods

  • Meta used copyrighted works without consent, risking market substitution by AI-generated texts.
  • This threatens the future market and livelihoods of traditional authors.
INSIGHT

Meta's Fair Use Defense

  • Meta defends using pirated books under US fair use by claiming their use is transformative.
  • This claim is debated since AI outputs may serve as substitutes for original works.
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