Artificial intelligence was once again the hot topic of the day in Washington DC, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee heard. testimony from the music industry, unions and academia on the risks presented by generative AI. The session focused largely on AI-powered digital replicas and deepfakes, with one musician sharing her own experiences with the technology.
Protecting copyright and free speech was also a central theme addressed by various guests, including Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl, SAG-AFTRA Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, Lisa Ramsey, professor at the University of San Diego School of Law, Digital Graham Davis, CEO of the Media Association (DiMA), and Ben Sheffner, former senior counsel at NBC Universal.
British actor and musician “FKA Twigs,” whose real name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, spoke directly about how AI could affect artists.
“We dedicate a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice to the pursuit of excellence, not only in hopes of achieving commercial success and critical acclaim, but also in hopes of creating a body of work and a reputation that will constitute our legacy”, FKA Twigs. told the committee. “I'm here because my music, my dancing, my acting, the way my body moves on camera and the way my voice sounds through a microphone are no accident. These are essential reflections of who I am.
FKA Twigs, 36, will star in the upcoming reboot of 'The Crow' in 2024. She highlighted the hard work that goes into perfecting the craft of an artist, with the goal of creating a solid foundation and lasting legacy, and not just glory.
“Let me be clear, I am not against AI,” she said. “As a forward-looking artist, new technologies are an exciting tool that can be used to express deeper emotions, create fantastical worlds, and touch the hearts of many people.”
FKA Twigs later told the committee that she had created a digital replica of herself.
“Over the past year, I have developed my own deepfake version of myself that is not only trained to my personality, but can also use my exact tone of voice to speak many languages,” he said. she said, noting that this can help her reach a more global fan base and fine-tune her marketing while focusing on her craft.
“However, this is all within my control, and I can grant or withhold consent in a meaningful way,” she noted.
Consent and fair compensation were key factors in SAG-AFTRA strike. Earlier this month, the actors' union signed a agreement with key players in the music industry that limits the use of AI with voice actors by record labels.
“What is not acceptable is when my art and identity can simply be taken by a third party and falsely exploited for their own gain without my consent due to lack of appropriate legislative oversight and restrictions,” added FKA Twigs.
In October, a bipartisan group of senators introduced the “No law against counterfeits,» aimed at prohibiting the creation of AI-generated likenesses without consent. This legislation addresses concerns about the use of AI to impersonate individuals in media, highlighted by an unauthorized AI-generated song featuring Drake and The Weeknd.
While many in the entertainment industry have called out AI creators for stealing their voices and style, some artists have kissed technology, including electronic musician Grimes, who in 2023 encouraged her fans to create an AI-generated version of her voice, with a rate of 50% royalties.
In November, The Beatles used AI to resurrect John Lennon and George Harrison to join Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to complete their final album, “From time to time.” In an interview with Decrypt earlier this month, Avenged Sevenfold frontman Matt Sanders said that in 20 years, people won't even care if music was created with AI.
For FKA Twigs, however, it's all about protecting the legacy she spent years creating through her music.
“It comes down to my spirit, my art – my brand is my brand,” she said. “I spent years developing it, and it's mine… it's not for anyone else to use in a commercial or cultural sense, or even just for laughs.”
“I am me, I am a human being,” she continued. “And we have to protect that.”
Edited by Ryan Ozawa.