PATREON
Patreon just said the quiet part out loud
Patreon CEO Jack Conte says he is not against AI, but he does think creators should be paid if their work is used to train AI models.
Speaking at SXSW in Austin, Conte said AI is just the latest in a long list of tech changes that have disrupted creative work.
From streaming changing the music industry to TikTok reshaping video, creators have had to adjust before, and he believes they will do it again with AI.
Still, he was clear on one thing: AI companies should not be allowed to use creators’ work for training without paying for it, especially when some are already making licensing deals with big publishers and rights holders.
His argument is simple, if this use really counted as fair use, then there would be no reason to pay anyone at all.
Here’s what you should know:
Conte said the issue is not AI itself, but the unpaid use of creators’ work.
He compared AI to past tech shifts that creators were forced to adapt to.
His main point was that creators should have a fair place in the AI future.
Cool, but costly
He also made it clear that he is not rejecting the technology itself. Conte said AI will likely be a big part of the future.
His point is that creators should be part of that future too, especially if their work is helping build these systems.
He ended on a hopeful note, saying people will still care about art made by other people.
In his view, real artists do more than repeat what already exists, they help move culture forward.
OpenAI, I’m open to any possible financial arrangement. - MV