Artists and cultural professionals of Quebec call for safeguards against artificial intelligence encroaching on their domain.
Artistic Unions of Quebec Speak Out Against Unregulated AI in Culture
Taking a stand against the potential threats posed by AI, six Quebec cultural unions have united in a bid to ensure government regulation of tech companies' AI development in the arts. The Association québécoise des techniciennes et techniciens de l'image et du son (AQTIS), l'Association des réalisateurs et des réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ), the Guilde des musiciens et musiciennes du Québec (GMMQ), the Guilde canadienne des réalisateurs (GRC Québec), the Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma (SARTEC), and l'Union des artistes (UDA) have come together to demand action, detailing their concerns in a manifesto titled L'Art est humain!
In a passionate speech, Tania Kontoyanni, the UDA's president, addressed an audience of hundreds stating, "An artist does not create by automation. They create through impulse, through a desire to communicate a personal and unique vision of our society, our existence, our human condition." She went on to argue that AI simply takes, fragments, and copies existing intimate visions of the world without truly understanding or contributing to the essence of human artistry.
The organizations argue that Quebec's cultural sovereignty, French language, and diversity of cultural expressions are being threatened by uncontrolled AI development. To combat these issues, they've made seven distinct demands, including the need for governments to protect copyright and workers' rights, increase transparency, and strengthen the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
Laurent Dubois, the general director of SARTEC, explained, "Every day, creators' works are appropriated for AI training purposes. At every moment, images, texts, voices, compositions are used without consent, transparency, and remuneration."
As the debate around AI's impact on culture continues to gain momentum both in Quebec and across Canada, it seems clear that a balance must be found between nurturing technological progress and preserving the rich cultural and linguistic identities that define Canada and Quebec.
*Further discussions: Intelligent automation in the arts, AI and cultural sovereignty, and the role of government in regulating AI in the arts and culture sector.
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In the ongoing discourse about AI's role in culture, the Quebec cultural unions are advocating for government regulation of AI in the arts, fearing that unchecked development could threaten creative sovereignty and artistic integrity. Concurrently, the former SAAQclic project manager, Sylvain Cloutier, admitted to manipulating a public tender for the Intelligent Transport Systems Program, highlighting the potential for manipulation in technology-related projects.
