Just as we passed the 25k signature mark, a post from Axios’ tech policy reporter Maria Cristina Curi dropped. US Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer’s AI Insight Committee, ironically - lacks insight. In putting together the committee, the Senate has managed to entirely leave off HALF of the types of people who should serve on a committee such as this … it’s arts & sciences folks, not just sciences. So, it’s time to hit the phones with a CALL TO ACTION!
The US Senate’s Committee on AI Insight is missing AI Ethicists, Journalists, Authors, Visual Artists (Illustrators, Animators, Photographers), Performing Artists (Actors, Voice Actors, Musicians) and many of those, whose creative works serve as the data fuel that makes an AI machine able to function. An AI machine would not be able to output ANYTHING - if it were not filled with the work products of the people listed above.
On a committee comprised of 22 people, only four people are not from the tech industry, and from those four - only ONE, represents a portion of a single category from the numerous groups listed above.
These artists and creative professionals, whose works (both personal and professional) have been pillaged for profit by these AI companies; all without the knowledge of or consent from their creators to be used, let alone any kind of compensation - are once again being left out of the conversation entirely. For these people to have only ONE PERSON, 1 seat out of 22 seats serving on this committee is not only unrepresentative, it’s beyond outrageous!
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ACTION ALERT - MAKE A CALL:
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Whether you live in New York or not, the Senate Majority Leader represents you! If you are an artist or if you are from one of the creative professions listed above, this directly affects you!
I encourage you to CALL SENATOR SCHUMER’S OFFICE. I encourage you to TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO CALL SENATOR SCHUMER’S OFFICE. Tell his staff (firmly, but politely)…
”The government MUST have human artists and creative professionals [such as those listed above] on the Senate's AI Insights Committee if they hope for the committee to provide and come to any kind of meaningful conclusions.”
His DC office number is: (202) 224-6542
It can't only be the AI companies who get to weigh in on policy that affects their businesses, while nobody speaks to the artists & creative professionals whose livelihoods are greatly impacted by all of this, this conversation is entirely one sided. The people being harmed right now by these technologies also deserve to be heard.
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One final note …
As of today, we are at 25, 851 signatures! Today’s blast, is one reason why people should sign our petition, to get the news as it happens, when it happens. We will continue sending only relevant updates to those who’ve signed our petition when it's happening. We don’t spam you, we just send out updates on advancements around the issue - not endless fundraising garbage.
So - once again - can each of you signed, get just 10 of your friends to sign our petition too?
We have a quick custom link you can text or e-mail to your friends:
https://www.change.org/WhiteHouse_TalkToHumanArtists
It’s absolutely incredible the love and support you have shown for one another so far in getting past our MILESTONE of 25,000 signatures! On to 35,000! And, if you haven’t already, and even if you have PLEASE SHARE OUR PETITION!
Yes, it will help us get more signatures, but it will also help us be able to get the word out quickly (like we did today) as developments on this rapidly changing issue emerge.
Thank you again for your support!
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***To view the full list from Maria Cristina Curi re: who is on that committee - you can click here: