Sinn Féin has tabled a motion demanding action to protect the livelihoods of Irish artists whose copyright is being undermined by the use of artificial intelligence.
Irish musicians, songwriters and composers hosted a briefing session at Leinster House today to raise awareness of the impact of AI developments on their artistic careers
Spokesperson for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD told the Dáil that artists are being robbed “of their creative talents”.
“We are living through the greatest art heist in history,” he stated.
Presenting a motion during Private Members’ Business, the deputy warned that the AI flood cannot be stopped and said that it is already filling the world with “slop”, and urged that action be taken to prevent Irish artists being swept away.
Mr Ó Snodaigh quoted a commentator who said that: “The bold future that AI promised has been created with stolen words.”
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway Walsh said that damage is being done on an individual and societal level.
“The fact is, minister, that Irish artists are being ripped off,” she said.
Responding for the Government, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Niamh Smyth said the concerns which artists are raising – and which, she noted, some debated on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland – are legitimate.
The Government wants to ensure creators’ rights are protected, while also availing of the opportunities AI presents.
She said that innovation should not come “at the expense of creativity”, and pointed to supports the Government has put in place during this period of transition, to ensure that it is “fair and inclusive”.
The Government will progress key issues being Ireland’s presidency of the EU, the minister said.
“Ultimately, we want Ireland to be a leader in the development and deployment of trustworthy AI,” she stated.
Support for the motion came from across the Opposition benches.
Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney warned that the unfettered rise of AI would “ultimately lead to the cessation of art”, and said Irish music in particular is vulnerable.
“That’s the direction of travel we’re going in unless we tackle this,” she said.
Labour TD Ciaran Ahern accused the Government of failing to show “any urgency on this issue”.
“Creative workers are expected to survive on unstable and often inadequate incomes,” he said.
While People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy challenged “the big tech line” that “this is unstoppable”.
This false “narrative of inevitability” is being “driven by a hunger for profit, and a massive gamble by those firms amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars,” he said.
Adding: “The needs of society, and of artists, should come before the needs of big tech.”