In this month’s roundup, we explore the most noteworthy AI news stories that made headlines in August.
TikTok Sheds Light on AI-Generated Content
TikTok has introduced a new feature to allow creators to easily label AI-generated content. The platform now emphasizes the importance of disclosing the use of AI in videos, with potential consequences for those who neglect to comply.
During the video uploading process, creators can now discover a toggle labeled “AI-generated content.” TikTok leaves no room for ambiguity, stressing that this label is pivotal in preventing “content removal.” In essence, the platform may take down videos that include AI-generated content but lack proper labeling.
While TikTok banned AI-generated videos in 2020 as part of its Community Guidelines, the introduction of this labeling feature raises the question of whether TikTok is now taking a step toward legitimizing AI-generated content on the platform. This shift mirrors a pattern seen in many companies that initially resisted or rejected AI technology, only to later embrace and adapt to it.
Ideogram: First Social Network for AI-Generated Art
Ideogram, founded by former researchers from Google Brain and backed by a substantial $16.5 million in seed funding, has released the first version of its app. The platform turns text into images, has “typography” preset among its style options and finally renders coherent text inside images. Users can now craft images with text elements in diverse colors, fonts, sizes, and styles. In just one week since its debut, Ideogram has attracted over 90,000 users who have collectively generated and shared three million images. Users note that the app is particularly helpful in typography.
Google Transforms Journalism with AI Genesis
Google is in the early stages of testing an AI tool called Genesis, designed to craft news articles by analyzing current events. While pitched as a “helpmate” to news giants like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, Google states that Genesis is not meant to replace journalists. Instead, it offers journalists options for headlines and writing styles, aiming to enhance productivity without compromising the quality of news stories.
While Google is experimenting with an AI-powered writing tool, Indian mass media has already transformed its broadcasting by incorporating virtual anchors. Odisha TV and India Today introduced ‘Lisa’ and ‘Sana’ – AI-powered anchors who now appear on the screen several times a day. These AI anchors are proficient in delivering news updates in various Indian languages and handling repetitive tasks with ease. While the audience has embraced them warmly, there are still concerns about how they might affect the quality of reporting and the changing role of human presenters.
AI-generated Art Denied Copyright Protection by U.S. Court
A U.S. court in Washington, D.C. has ruled that artworks created solely by artificial intelligence, without any human involvement, are ineligible for copyright protection under U.S. law. The ruling put an end to the lawsuit of computer scientist Stephen Thaler, who tried to issue patents for inventions generated by his artificial intelligence system, DABUS. According to Thaler, his DABUS system created unique prototypes for a beverage holder and emergency light beacon entirely on its own.
The court’s decision marks the development of much broader discussions concerning AI-generated art and the question of ownership. Preceding this ruling, the Copyright Office had already set a precedent by rejecting copyright requests for images generated by Midjourney. While the March guidance from the Copyright Office still sparks doubts and disputes, the Office issued a new Notice of Inquiry on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, seeking to establish comprehensive guidelines and safeguards for all stakeholders involved.