A powerful coalition of Hollywood stars and creative industry leaders has launched a blistering attack on artificial intelligence companies, accusing them of systematic copyright theft. The open letter, signed by major figures including Scarlett Johansson and Cate Blanchett, represents one of the most significant collective actions by artists against the rapidly expanding AI sector.
High-Profile Signatories Demand Ethical AI Development
The letter, organised under the Human Artistry Campaign's "Stealing Isn't Innovation" movement, has attracted support from across the entertainment spectrum. Alongside Johansson and Blanchett, signatories include Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, legendary band REM, actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Olivia Munn, and musicians Aimee Mann, MGMT, Common, Cyndi Lauper, and Simon Le Bon. Acclaimed author Jonathan Franzen has also added his name to the document.
Direct Accusations of Unauthorised Use
The signatories deliver a stark message to technology firms, stating unequivocally: "Stealing our work is not innovation. It's not progress. It's theft – plain and simple." They argue that America's creative community, which generates substantial economic benefits through jobs, growth, and exports, deserves protection rather than exploitation.
The letter specifically criticises what it describes as unauthorised use of copyrighted material by "some of the biggest tech companies, many backed by private equity and other funders" who are allegedly using creators' work to build AI platforms without proper authorisation or regard for existing copyright law.
Proposed Alternative: Licensing and Partnerships
Rather than simply condemning current practices, the letter outlines what it considers a viable alternative approach. It highlights that "through licensing deals and partnerships, some AI companies have taken the responsible, ethical route to obtaining the content and materials they wish to use."
The creative coalition concludes with an optimistic vision: "It is possible to have it all. We can have advanced, rapidly developing AI and ensure creators' rights are respected." This represents a clear call for collaboration rather than confrontation, provided that ethical frameworks are established.
Johansson's Previous AI Controversy
This collective action follows Scarlett Johansson's previous public criticism of artificial intelligence practices. The actor expressed being "shocked" and "angered" when OpenAI launched a ChatGPT voice assistant that she described as bearing an "eerily similar" resemblance to her own voice. This controversy prompted OpenAI to temporarily halt use of the voice in question.
OpenAI has consistently denied any intention to mimic Johansson's voice, stating in their announcement about pausing the voice: "We believe that AI voices should not deliberately mimic a celebrity's distinctive voice – Sky's voice is not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson but belongs to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice." The company added that privacy concerns prevented them from sharing the names of their voice talents.
The open letter represents a significant escalation in the ongoing debate about intellectual property rights in the age of artificial intelligence, with major creative figures now organising collectively to demand change from technology companies.
