9th WIPO Conversation on “Training the Machines – Bytes, Rights, and the Copyright Conundrum” – Recap and Highlights

WIPO Director General Daren Tang recently addressed the challenges and opportunities presented by training and developing artificial intelligence (AI) machines at the 9th WIPO Conversation on “Training the Machines – Bytes, Rights, and the Copyright Conundrum”. Tang emphasized the need for an inclusive strategy in AI development to address copyright concerns and data training bias issues.

The event, held on March 13-14, provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the relationship between data training and intellectual property (IP). H.E. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Gambia to the United Nations Office in Geneva, chaired the session, urging participants to engage thoroughly in the discussions.

Discussions at the event delved into the complexities and potential tensions at the intersection of AI development and artistic creation. Topics included finding balance in this area, the neuroscience behind data learning, and issues surrounding litigation and the use of copyright-protected works as training data.

The event also featured a presentation by Mr. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, Chief Negotiator of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), on fair compensation for creatives. Day Two covered AI regulation, contractual frameworks, and new approaches for the AI age, culminating in open floor interventions and sharing sessions from IP Offices, Member States, innovators, and IP professionals.

Since the inception of the WIPO Conversations in 2019, several initiatives and projects have been launched, including a guide on Generative AI for enterprises, an IP Policy Toolkit, and a series of IP management clinics for AI-driven small and medium enterprises (SMEs). WIPO is also collaborating with various UN agencies on broader high-level discussions on AI and the Global Digital Compact.

The WIPO Conversation serves as a forum to engage with stakeholders and facilitate discussions on the impact of frontier technologies on IP, including artificial intelligence. The series aims to exchange information, build knowledge, and support well-informed policy choices in an area rapidly reshaping economies and societies.