Portrait of Sam Altman
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Sam Altman on Copyright

Pro-Fair Use Lobbyist (strong)

TL;DR

Sam Altman advocates for a new economic model where AI training relies on broad fair use principles for copyrighted works.

Key Points

  • In May 2023, Sam Altman stated that content owners "totally deserve control over [their work] and to benefit from it."

  • His company has been accused of training AI models on copyrighted content without permission, leading to multiple lawsuits.

  • Following the release of Sora 2, the company announced plans to add granular opt-in copyright controls to its tools.

Summary

Sam Altman's position on copyright has been characterized by his advocacy for the use of copyrighted content in AI model training, often arguing that such use falls under fair use and is essential for competitiveness and even national security. At one point in May 2023, he stated that content owners "totally deserve control over [their work] and to benefit from it." However, more recent commentary, particularly following the release of his company's AI video generator, suggests a shift toward an opt-out system, where content is assumed to be available for use unless rights holders explicitly opt out, which critics view as an aggressive stance against established copyright.

This evolving stance is set against the backdrop of numerous lawsuits against his company regarding training data. He has acknowledged the need to figure out a "new model around the economics [of] creative output," suggesting that while copying an entire work is impermissible, the line for inspiration is complex, especially when creators build upon existing works. Furthermore, the company has announced plans to introduce granular opt-in copyright controls for its tools like the Sora video generator, indicating a potential concession or evolution toward offering rights holders a defined path for control and compensation, though the specifics of this 'new model' remain debated.

Key Quotes

“content owners totally deserve control over [their work] and to benefit from it.”

“Applying the fair use doctrine to AI is not only a matter of American competitiveness—it's a matter of national security… If the PRC's developers have unfettered access to data and American companies are left without fair use access, the race for AI is effectively over… access to more data from the widest possible range of sources will ensure more access to more powerful innovations that deliver even more knowledge.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Sam Altman generally advocates for principles that allow wide access to copyrighted material for AI training, often framing it as necessary for innovation and competitiveness. He suggests that the existing copyright framework may need a 'new model' to address the economics of creative output in the age of generative AI.

The position appears to have evolved, moving from an early suggestion of respecting content ownership to advocating for a system that relies on creators opting out of data usage. Critics view this as a shift toward assuming access to copyrighted material unless explicitly denied.

Sam Altman has argued that it would be 'impossible' to train AI without using copyrighted content, citing national security and competitive advantage against rivals as reasons to support a broad fair use interpretation. He also indicated a willingness to explore revenue models if artists opt-in to their work being used.