PhotoVogue Festival 2023: The Talks
This conversation took place on November 18th 2023 as part of the PhotoVogue Festival 2023 which centered around the theme “What Makes us Human?: Image in the Age of A.I.”
As the world becomes increasingly digitized, we are witnessing the emergence of novel and complex legal challenges. In particular, Artificial Intelligence technology continues to evolve at an extraordinary rate, with its capabilities reshaping countless aspects of our lives. One such area undergoing significant change is the realm of content creation. This presentation will delve into the complex and unprecedented issue of copyright in the context of AI authorship. We begin by providing an overview of the current state of AI capabilities in generating original content, from articles and books to music and visual art.
In the talk “Generative A.I. Authorship or Authorship through Generative A.I.: The Copyright Dilemma”, we ll discuss the concept of AI as an author , and the various arguments for and against this idea. This involves examining the fundamental nature of authorship and creativity, and determining whether or not these concepts can truly be applied to a non-human entity. We will continue with an overview of the current copyright law framework, highlighting its origins and evolution to cater to the changing artistic and creative landscape. We will explore how this framework is challenged by the emergence of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms that can generate human-like content, from written text and music to visual art. Our journey will delve into the concept of AI as authors - can AI own copyrights, or should all creations by AI fall into the public domain? We ll also consider the possibility of AI as a tool used by human authors, asking if this shifts or redistributes the ownership of copyright.
In the international context, we ll examine how the USA and EU are responding to these challenges, referring to recent case studies, demonstrating the complexities of these issues in the real world. The discussion will hopefully serve as an opportunity to spotlight the critical aspects of the digital age and to consider and discuss potential solutions to this copyright dilemma. Can we find a middle ground that recognizes the role of AI in content creation while still protecting human creativity and innovation?
This talk is curated by Lydia Mendola is a partner of Portolano Cavallo since 2018. Relying upon her 20+ year professional experience, Lydia assists Italian and foreign clients in matters of intellectual and industrial property, in court proceedings, with particular focus upon disputes for violations of trademarks and patents, design and copyrights. Furthermore, Mendola counsels businesses on consumer protection and advertising, and has honed deep knowledge of the Digital, Media Technology, Life Sciences, Fashion Luxury and Food Beverage sectors. Mendola is a member of several international associations in the field of intellectual property and is a recognized expert in the field.
"Generative A.I. Authorship or Authorship through Generative A.I.: The Copyright Dilemma" is part of day 2 “Charting New Territories: The Ethical Implications of A.I. in Image Creation” of the Symposium taking place at BASE Milano on Saturday 18th November.
The event is free and everyone is welcome to attend.
The recording of this panel will be uploaded after the Festival.
Saturday 18th November - Day 2 “Picturing the Future: A.I. and the Evolution of Visual Storytelling” will also feature:
- “Blending ART + SCIENCE: A Human Approach towards the Future of Creativity” by Alessandra Sala
- “Pretty Girls Look Like This: A.I., Photography and Racism within digital media” Mutale Nkonde
- "90 Miles - A.I. Reportage Illustration” Michael Christopher Brown
- “Broken Mirror. A dystopian guide to crossing the border” Filippo Venturi
- “Making the invisible, visible: Pictures as the most powerful force for change.” Nicki Lees
- "Envisioning Tomorrow: A.I. and the Future of Visual Narratives", Group discussion
- “What Makes Us Human?” with Paola Mieli, Paolo Benanti, and Giacomo Rizzolatti
PhotoVogue Festival is a project directed by Alessia Glaviano (Head of Global PhotoVogue) and co-curated by Francesca Marani (Senior Photo Editor, Vogue Italia), Chiara Bardelli Nonino (Editor, Writer and Curator), Daniel Rodríguez Gordillo (Content Operations Strategy Manager, Condé Nast) and Caterina De Biasio (Visual Editor, PhotoVogue)
