Generative artificial intelligence is projected to significantly impact the creative economy, potentially causing substantial revenue losses for artists. A new report from UNESCO forecasts that AI-generated content could lead to revenue declines of up to 24% for music creators and 21% for audiovisual creators by 2028.
This warning comes as creators increasingly rely on digital channels, which now account for 35% of their income, a sharp increase from 17% in 2018. Experts note that current copyright frameworks are struggling to address the scale at which AI systems extract value from protected works without proportionate compensation.
The report highlights that existing legal doctrines, such as fair use, are strained by the wholesale ingestion of vast copyrighted material for AI model development. The uncertainty surrounding AI training and output replication often favors large technology firms.
Legal challenges are mounting against AI developers. OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Anthropic are facing numerous copyright lawsuits from authors and publishers alleging unauthorized use of copyrighted material for AI training. These legal battles underscore the growing debate over ownership, compensation, and the future of creative work in the age of AI.
In response, industry groups are advocating for clearer standards and remuneration protections for creators. Simultaneously, some tech sectors are investing in AI literacy programs for artists, aiming to equip them with new skills for a changing landscape.