Artificial Intelligence, or AI, was not so long ago only found in science fiction novels. Now it is all the talk in Washington, D.C., as lawmakers and advocates alike grapple with how to get our arms around this exploding technology that is spurring dramatic change.
Yesterday, I participated in the United States Copyright Office’s listening session on the use of AI in relation to audiovisual content. It was humbling to speak on behalf of local broadcasters on this timely issue that directly impacts our television and radio station members and the hundreds of millions of Americans that depend on them.
At a time when disinformation runs rampant online, our nation’s broadcasters serve as invaluable pillars of truly local, fact-based journalism. They are the source of investigative reports, entertainment, breaking news, weather coverage and emergency information, investing substantial resources to provide the most trusted news and information and serve as a lifeline in times of disaster.
The advent of AI technology brings immense potential for unlocking operational efficiencies in broadcasting when it’s used responsibly and its development respects copyright ownership. However, like many creative industries, broadcasters have some concerns about how generative AI tools are being developed and utilized.
Many in the radio and television business are excited about the efficiencies and operational help AI tools can provide. This includes scripting commercials and first drafts of content that can then be reviewed by station personnel, speeding up transcription services and even helping create first drafts of social media posts for on-air talent.
But there are also some concerns. One of those issues is how AI chat bots may use broadcasters’ copyrighted works without providing any compensation. This could harm stations’ ability to invest in local news and on-the-ground reporting, which is an extremely costly service broadcasters provide to the public free of charge. Ultimately, this would hurt our communities and their ability to be informed about things happening on a local, state and national level.
Broadcasters’ copyrighted content could also be distorted and used as a vehicle for spreading misinformation, as AI responses often lack attribution and sourcing, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate broadcast content and misinformation. This issue is amplified by generative AI tools, which increase the likelihood of broadcast content being ingested and mixed with unverified and inaccurate third-party information.
For instance, The New York Times recently reported on a case involving “deepfake” videos distributed by social media bot accounts. These videos showed AI-generated avatars posing as news anchors for a fictitious news outlet named Wolf News, which were actually part of a disinformation campaign. The Guardian also reported that according to NewsGuard, an anti-misinformation organization, chatbots masquerading as journalists were found operating almost 50 AI-generated “content farms.” These farms produced countless “articles” on politics, health and more, all posing as legitimate journalism.
In this current politically charged atmosphere of misinformation, local television and radio stations have become an even more critical source of trusted news for Americans. To keep local journalism strong, we are urging the Copyright Office to consider these significant issues.
The responsible development and use of AI should ensure the integrity of our broadcasters’ work and the trust that the public puts in it, as well as adequately compensate broadcasters for use of their valuable copyrighted content. Let’s strive to keep our democracy well-informed and our local journalism strong.
