WIPO DG Tang Opens the 9th WIPO Conversation: Training AI not just a Challenge, but an Opportunity for New Forms of Creative Expression

March 15, 2024

Training and developing artificial intelligence (AI) machines presents both challenges and opportunities, as innovators and creators drive these new forms of creative expression, said WIPO Director General Daren Tang in delivering the opening address at the 9th WIPO Conversation on "Training the Machines - Bytes, Rights, and the Copyright Conundrum".

As much as gen-AI is a game changer, it is not the first disruptive technology to impact on the way we work, live and play.

Fax machines, VCRs and CDs, the internet, smartphones – all changed our lives and impacted on the IP ecosystem. But at each juncture after a period of transition, we were able to adapt, adjust and evolve.

We came together as a community to set new norms, evolve new standards, both domestically as well as internationally. Innovators and creators will still use technology – as they have for decades – to stimulate, enhance, provoke and engender new forms of creations, so we must not see AI just as a challenge, but also as an opportunity and tool for new forms of creative expression.

Mr. Tang stated.

Amid copyright concerns and data training bias issues in the application and use of AI, Mr. Tang emphasized that while these were difficult topics especially in an increasingly fragmented world, there is the urgent need for an inclusive strategy in AI development that considers various perspectives in addressing these issues, particularly being cognizant of gaps in digital infrastructure in certain parts of the world.

The March 13-14 event provided a platform for deep exploration of the relationship between data training and IP, evaluating current practices, proposing practical solutions, and envisioning future directions, all aimed at fostering a holistic understanding of the impact of training data on the IP landscape.

H.E. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Gambia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, assumed the role as Chair of the session, urging all participants to engage thoroughly in the discussions, while underscoring the importance of the event.

Day One’s discussions delved into complexities and potential tensions arising at the intersection of AI development and artistic creation. Participants discussed how to find balance in this area, the neuroscience behind data learning, and as well as issues surrounding litigation and the use of copyright-protected works as training data.

There was also a presentation by Mr. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, Chief Negotiator of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), who spoke on the topic of fair compensation for creatives.

Day Two covered the topics of AI regulation and contractual frameworks, the training of large language models and new approaches for the AI age, culminating in open floor interventions and sharing sessions  from IP Offices, Member States, innovators, and IP professionals.

Since the inception of the WIPO Conversations in 2019 , a number of initiatives and projects have been launched as a result of these discussions. A guide on Generative AI for enterprises and entrepreneurs to assist in assessing and mitigating IP risks in the adoption of AI tools; an IP Policy Toolkit designed to aid regulators and IP offices in addressing IP and AI issues in a structured manner, as well as a series of cross-regional series of IP management clinics for AI-driven small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

WIPO is also collaborating with various UN agencies to engage in broader high-level discussions on AI and the Global Digital Compact: a multi stakeholder action plan on digital cooperation which is expected to provide an inclusive global framework to overcome digital, data and innovation divides for a sustainable digital future.

Background

The WIPO Conversation is a forum to engage with and facilitate discussion about the impact of frontier technologies on IP, including artificial intelligence. WIPO began this series of conversations as a way of convening a diverse group of stakeholders to exchange information, build knowledge and support well-informed policy choices in an area that is rapidly reshaping our economies and societies. If you would like to receive the most up-to-date information, please get in touch to subscribe to the Frontier Technologies mailing list.