How AI Transformed the Landscape of Music, Movies, and Art in 2023

In 2023, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on music, movies, and art became evident, causing a mix of excitement and concern. While some artists embraced AI as a tool to enhance their creative process, others were outraged and took legal action against companies that used AI to strengthen their models. This led to battles both on picket lines and in courtrooms, captivating millions of viewers and listeners worldwide. Here are the key ways in which AI influenced culture this year.

One significant event was the Hollywood strikes, where writers and actors staged a historic double strike due to fears that AI would replace their jobs. Writing tools like ChatGPT and AI image-generation tools like Midjourney became prevalent in Hollywood, raising concerns among creatives. After extensive negotiations, guilds representing writers and actors secured protections against the use of AI to write or edit scripts, ensuring fair compensation for their work. However, some filmmakers remain apprehensive about the effectiveness of these safeguards.

In the world of TikTok, AI content made a splash. Deepfake audio and video clips featuring U.S. presidents, celebrities, and fictional characters went viral on the platform. While some were humorous or harmless, others spread conspiracy theories or were used in scam ads. Additionally, creators experimented with AI-generated visual memes, incorporating high-fashion clothing into historical or fictional characters’ images. As AI flooded TikTok, some content creators even pretended to be digital characters, attracting a large following and earning substantial sums.

AI also made its mark in the music industry through audio deepfakes. Musicians such as Ghostwriter imitated popular artists like Drake and The Weeknd, gaining viral attention. However, many of these AI-generated songs were created without the artists’ consent, leading to copyright disputes and takedown requests from labels. This raises concerns about protecting artists’ livelihoods when anyone can replicate their sound with AI.

To safeguard their work, some artists resorted to legal action. Comedian Sarah Silverman sued OpenAI and Meta for copyright infringement, alleging that their AI models were trained on unlawfully acquired datasets containing her books. Other authors, including George R.R. Martin, joined the lawsuit against OpenAI. Visual artists, such as Kelly McKernan, filed a class-action lawsuit against AI companies like Midjourney, Stability AI, and DeviantArt for creating derivatives of their artistic styles. However, these legal battles faced obstacles, with some lawsuits being dismissed or facing challenges in proving copyright infringement.

In a separate case, a judge ruled that AI-generated art cannot be copyrighted, emphasizing the requirement of human authorship. Nevertheless, the rise of AI raises questions about the level of human input necessary for copyright protection in AI-created art.

Overall, AI’s influence on culture in 2023 sparked debates, legal battles, and new possibilities. As the technology continues to advance, it remains to be seen how artists, creators, and industries will navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.