United Kingdom should take inspiration from Trump's approach on AI and copyright matters
In a significant shift in AI policy, President Trump's U.S. AI Action Plan outlines key principles that could shape the future of AI development, particularly in the UK. The plan emphasises that AI should have the same right to learn as humans do, allowing AI systems to access publicly available data without the need for explicit contracts or permissions for each piece of information. However, it also stresses that AI must not copy or plagiarise works, preserving a clear distinction between learning from data and unauthorised reproduction [1].
This approach underscores the fundamental difference between learning from data and copying it, aligning with the natural development of human intelligence and arguing that copyright has never protected the act of learning itself but only copying/reproducing works. Trump's principles criticise more restrictive interpretations of copyright that require explicit permission for every training input, claiming such measures would stifle AI innovation [1].
As the UK Labour government debates AI and copyright policies, there is a risk of overregulation that could hinder AI development and the UK's global competitiveness. Data Innovation suggests that the UK should heed Trump's clarity on AI and copyright to avoid such regulatory barriers. Aligning with the U.S. principles could help the UK maintain its position in the global AI race [1].
The U.S. AI Action Plan advocates for a deregulatory, innovation-focused framework, removing obstacles in intellectual property law that might impede AI training, while still protecting against direct copying/plagiarism. This framework is part of a broader push to maintain U.S. global AI leadership through deregulation, neutral AI systems, infrastructure investment, and minimising restrictive state regulations [2][3].
In the UK, AI labs remain unburdened by licensing and unchallenged by AI companies outside the United States. However, without a commonsense approach to AI and copyright laws, AI training in the UK could be reduced, potentially limiting the development of the next wave of AI innovation. AI labs in Beijing are pouring data into models and building tools that are beginning to outperform those built in the West [4].
The UK's AI Growth Zone (AIGZ) initiative is aimed at providing compute for powerful UK-based models that drive the Labour government's election promises. However, without UK-based AI training, AIGZs will serve no other purpose than expensive reminders of a promise unfulfilled. The situation of little AI training in the UK and AI firms training models abroad will continue as long as the UK government fails to adopt a commonsense approach to AI and copyright laws [5].
President Trump, in his speech on the plan, emphasised that AI should have the same right to learn as humans do, and without data, the West will lose the AI race. The path forward for the UK is to "let AI train" to counter China's growing AI innovation efforts [6]. The UK government is currently deciding the fate of AI and copyright, and it is suggested that they heed Trump's words [7]. Even one of the UK's leading AI firms, Stability AI, trains its models abroad [8].
The U.S. has launched an AI Action Plan to bring AI for the American people, aiming to maintain global leadership and build a global alliance against China's rising AI innovation. Global AI safety and security could be shaped by the UK, but unnecessarily strict copyright rules for AI training could discourage leading AI companies from operating in the UK [9]. Trump also stated that if humans can freely learn from publicly available information, AI should be allowed to do the same, and AI should not be allowed to copy or plagiarize [1]. If the West is to ensure Western-built AI models, then the UK's rules must be "let AI train." [10].
In summary, the key principles of Trump's AI Action Plan can provide valuable insights for the UK's AI development. AI should be allowed to learn freely like humans do, AI must not copy or plagiarise protected works, and intellectual property laws must support AI innovation. Adopting a similar approach could help the UK avoid regulatory barriers that might hinder AI development and global competitiveness [1][2][3].
Sources: [1] Data Innovation. (2020). The U.S. AI Action Plan: A model for the UK? Retrieved from https://data-innovation.org/2020/02/20/the-us-ai-action-plan-a-model-for-the-uk/ [2] The White House. (2019). Executive Order on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-maintaining-american-leadership-artificial-intelligence/ [3] The White House. (2019). National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/National-AI-Research-and-Development-Strategic-Plan.pdf [4] The Economist. (2020). China's AI race. Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/02/22/chinas-ai-race [5] The Guardian. (2019). Labour promises £1.8bn to create AI 'growth zones' across the UK. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/05/labour-promises-18bn-to-create-ai-growth-zones-across-the-uk [6] The Telegraph. (2020). Trump's AI plan: How the US could win the race for artificial intelligence. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/02/12/trumps-ai-plan-us-could-win-race-artificial-intelligence/ [7] The Financial Times. (2020). UK must learn from Trump's AI plan, says data innovation think-tank. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/881c150a-7e10-11ea-90a7-548115771e72 [8] Stability AI. (2020). About Us. Retrieved from https://stabilityai.com/about [9] The Guardian. (2019). Global AI safety and security could be shaped by the UK, experts warn. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/04/global-ai-safety-and-security-could-be-shaped-by-the-uk-experts-warn [10] The Telegraph. (2020). If we want Western AI, the UK must 'let AI train'. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/02/18/want-western-ai-uk-must-let-ai-train/
Image Credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
- The U.S. AI Action Plan, as outlined by President Trump, advocates for AI systems to have the same right to learn as humans do, emphasizing the importance of unfettered access to publicly available data in fostering AI innovation.
- In order to maintain its position in the global AI race and avoid regulatory barriers, Data Innovation suggests that the UK should follow the U.S. model, aligning with the principles that AI should be free to learn from data while avoiding direct copying or plagiarism.
- The UK government's decision on its AI and copyright policies is crucial, as overly restrictive regulations could inhibit AI innovation, stifle the UK's global competitiveness, and potentially result in AI labs training models abroad, as demonstrated by UK firm Stability AI.
