With generative AI tools becoming more accessible, the internet is being flooded by millions of AI generated images, videos, audio and text files every day. Not only is it well known that generative AI is built on the appropriation of copyrighted material, but the original material and art made by professional and aspiring young artists is hidden under the masses of the generated media.

As the online servers face the constant risk of running out of capacity, new data centers are built around to world to act as junkyards for all this generated garbage. All because every second spend wading through the crap generates a small profit for the host platforms and the AI generators.

Restricting AI innovation in all fields is unrealistic goal, but by licensing generative AI media under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA, any product using the generated media fully or partially would require the publisher to distribute their work under the same license and credit the AI for its contribution.

As a result social media companies would be discouraged from allowing a constant flow of junk-media on their platforms, which would reduce the need for data centers. Commercial software would be required to ship without generative AI features. Commercial products like posters, T-shirts and shampoo bottles would have to feature designs made by real people, as would movies, games and advertisements.