Economists Foresee Shift in Creator Stance on AI Training Data, Prioritizing Legacy Over IP Protection

Economist John Cochrane recently highlighted a provocative observation from Tyler Cowen, suggesting a fundamental change in creators' perspectives on artificial intelligence training data. Cochrane's tweet questioned a potential future where the current "don't use my IP to train your AI" sentiment transforms into a plea: "please please put my article/book/journal in the training database so that anyone 10 years from now has any idea what I wrote?" This query delves into the evolving interplay between intellectual property rights, AI's role in information dissemination, and the long-term visibility of creative works.

The current landscape is marked by significant legal and ethical debates, with numerous creators and organizations actively challenging AI developers over the unauthorized use of copyrighted material for training large language models. These legal battles often center on alleged copyright infringement and the lack of explicit consent or compensation for content ingested by AI systems. The prevailing focus has been on protecting intellectual property and ensuring fair remuneration.

However, the perspective put forth by Cowen, and amplified by Cochrane, hints at a future driven by different motivations. As AI becomes increasingly central to how information is accessed and preserved, creators might prioritize digital legacy and sustained relevance over strict IP control. Tyler Cowen himself has spoken about the concept of "intellectual immortality" through AI, suggesting that having one's work included in AI training datasets could ensure its enduring presence and discoverability in future knowledge ecosystems.

This potential shift could redefine the value proposition of creative works, moving beyond immediate financial gains to encompass the strategic importance of sustained visibility. For academics, authors, and artists, inclusion in AI training data could become a crucial mechanism for their contributions to remain influential and accessible to future generations, even if it means re-evaluating traditional notions of copyright and ownership. The ongoing discussions underscore the complex challenge of balancing innovation, creator rights, and the societal benefits of widely accessible knowledge in the age of artificial intelligence.