Is your preferred AI application built on ethically sourced data? Fairly Trained, a new non-profit organization, is going to do its best to figure out the answer, then certify AI models that legally license protected data for training their AI models.
The organization’s mission is to promote ethical practices in AI development by certifying companies that respect creator consent and copyright laws. Fairly Trained’s approach is notable for its exclusion of certifications to companies that rely on the fair use argument for training models.
The certification program has already seen participation from several generative AI companies specializing in image, music, and voice generation, including Beatoven.ai, Boomy, BRIA.ai, Endel, LifeScore, Rightsify, SOMMS.AI, Soundful, and Tuney. This development is particularly relevant in light of proposed legislation in the United States Congress that would require AI companies to disclose their training data sources, aiming to provide transparency and protect the rights of copyright holders.
The future impact of Fairly Trained remains to be seen. Will it emerge as a pivotal force for protecting intellectual property, or will it devolve into a superficial badge? Time will tell. It’s also important to remember that OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google have all announced that they will indemnify users of their respective AI apps against copyright infringement claims arising from the use of their products.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it. This work was created with the assistance of various generative AI models.