Westside Library here in Galway is using generative AI to promote events. I have written a complaint to the Library and the City/County Council, which I have reproduced below. I have also reproduced below that, the exchange on Instagram in which the Library seemed to claim innocence because the image was supplied by a third party.
—————————–
I must object in the strongest possible terms to the Westside Library’s use of generative AI to advertise events (see attached screenshot). The Library’s claim to innocence on social media that a third party supplied the imagery does not negate the fact that the Library is using that imagery to promote the event, in the full knowledge of its origins.
A library is supposed to be part of a protective infrastructure that insulates and respects the rights of authors and copyright holders more generally. Every single generative AI text, image, or sound, has come from the plundering of vast troves of copyrighted material. AI company Anthropic have been found to have breached the copyright of thousands of authors in a class action in the US, and ordered to pay out €1.5 billion, amounting to a measly €3000 per author, in a rare instance of consequences for IP theft by one of these companies.
The image you’ve used is full of errors (two-handled cups, an upright piano that thinks it’s a grand etc) but worse, has been generated from the theft of millions of pieces of human art found online and used illegally and without consequence for the platform on which it was produced, and without compensation to the thousands of authors whose work was stolen.
By promoting events with generative AI Westside Library is tacitly approving this culture of artistic theft and its consequent disturbing output as an adequate standard of communication. The Library is essentially endorsing the theft of artistic work, and the low standards of generative AI imagery, as appropriate. The Library is conceding some sort of implied inevitability in a process that is literally stripping humanity of literacy.
Westside Library would need to take a long hard stare at itself and ask how hard would it be to say no to generative AI outputs when they clearly go against everything libraries stand for. You’re literally hurting authors, artists, musicians, and in many ways the worst of all, young readers who will see the adults in the room saying that is ok.
———————-
Text of screenshot:
allanartist Please, PLEASE stop using generative Al for posters. You’re a LIBRARY for goodness sake.
Reply
worthyallalong 2h • @allanartist hi Allan! Ive spoken directly to the library about the exact same topic. From what I understand, the library does not use generative Al in the creation of any of its advertising. They wont refuse an event, or refuse to promote an event, that supplies them with promo material that used it.
Reply
thewestsidelibrary 18h • Author
Hi Allan. Thank you for your feedback, which we value. In this instance, the poster had been sent to us to advertise the event.
We did not create the poster. Regards, Westside Library.
Reply
allanartist 39m
@thewestsidelibrary you are using generative Al to promote an event.
That is categorically correct. The library is deliberately using generative Al in full knowledge of its origins.
————————-
Want to order a caricature? Click here.
Want to make an enquiry? Click here.
Top-rated caricature artist in Ireland! See my reviews here.
See even more examples of my art at the bottom of this post!