Hollywood Cheers On California AI Safety Bill As Acclaimed Filmmaker James Cameron Joins Stability AI’s Board

It wasn’t too long ago that Hollywood went to war against artificial intelligence (AI) and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and its use in the media and entertainment industry.

In a victory, Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, signed two bills that would help safeguard artists from various unethical uses of AI, a move that was celebrated by celebrities not just in Hollywood but also around the world.

Now, many of the same artists from the industry are drawing the Governor’s attention to another bill that is “urgently awaiting” his signature.

This is a sentiment shared by many employees from leading AI companies too.

So, what did the people of Hollywood and employees of leading AI companies say? Let’s explore!

What Does Hollywood’s Open Letter Consist Of?

Taking the movement to protect artists from the harmful and unethical use of AI one step further, artists are now looking to protect everyone!
In an open letter written by one of the signatories, artists are now calling for Governor Newsom to sign Senator Wiener’s SB 1047 (Senate Bill) into law.
“Grave threats from AI used to be the stuff of science fiction, but not anymore,” read a line from the letter.
The bill calls for AI companies to implement safeguards to reduce the chances of their models causing harmful effects such as severe cyberattacks or pandemics.
The law would apply to companies operating in California, which already includes the top five generative AI companies in the world.
While the bill is passed in California’s legislature, it’s pending the governor’s signature, for which he has until September 30, 2024, to sign or veto it.
The letter consisted of prominent names such as JJ Abrams, Patrick Adams, Jessica Alba, Mahershala Ali, Laz Alonso, Judd Apatow, Sean Astin, Alec Baldwin, Ed Begley Jr., Yvette Nicole Brown, Jessica Chastain, Don Cheadle, John Cho, Misha Collins, Jon Cryer, Garret Dillahunt, Jane Fonda, Clark Gregg, Mark Hamill, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sean Maguire, Adam McKay, Alyssa Milano, Rosie O'Donnell, Pedro Pascal, Kal Penn, Ron Perlman, Krysten Ritter, Mark Ruffalo, Marisa Tomei, Shailene Woodley and more.
While the artists are pushing for the regulation of AI technology, they also “fully believe in the dazzling potential of AI to be used for good.”

What Did Employees Of Leading AI Companies Say?

In an open letter in support of SB 1047, over a hundred current and former employees of OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, Meta and xAI said, “We believe that the most powerful AI models may soon pose severe risks, such as expanded access to biological weapons and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.”
“It is feasible and appropriate for frontier AI companies to test whether the most powerful AI models can cause severe harms, and for these companies to implement reasonable safeguards against such risks.”

However, veteran filmmaker James Cameron, the genius behind movies such as Avatar, Titanic, The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss and other movies, is embracing the technology.

TechDogs-"An Image Of James Cameron As Used In Stability AI's News Release"

Source

What Is James Cameron Doing?

Through a news release published on its website, Stability AI announced that legendary filmmaker, technology innovator and visual effects pioneer James Cameron has joined its Board of Directors.
Cameron’s involvement will bring Stability AI an artist-centric perspective blended with industry-specific business and technical acumen, allowing the company to unlock new opportunities and help creators bring their imagination to life.
As a veteran filmmaker, Cameron has long been a driving force in the adoption of advanced technologies in filmmaking and has consistently pushed cinematic boundaries, as seen through his dedication in the Avatar franchise.
Cameron will join the other newly appointed board members Dana Settle, Colin Bryant and Sean Parker.

What Did James Cameron Say?

Through the news release, James Cameron, Chair of Lightstorm Entertainment and Board Member of Stability AI, said, “I’ve spent my career seeking out emerging technologies that push the very boundaries of what’s possible, all in the service of telling incredible stories.”
“I was at the forefront of CGI over three decades ago, and I’ve stayed on the cutting edge since. Now, the intersection of generative AI and CGI image creation is the next wave.”
“The convergence of these two totally different engines of creation will unlock new ways for artists to tell stories in ways we could have never imagined.”
“Stability AI is poised to lead this transformation. I’m delighted to collaborate with Sean, Prem, and the Stability AI team as they shape the future of all visual media.”

What Did Stability AI Executives Say?

Sean Parker, Executive Chairman of Stability AI, said, “James Cameron is a legend, both for his artistic vision as a filmmaker and his role as a pioneering technologist. Having an artist of his caliber with a seat at the table marks the start of a new chapter for Stability AI.”
[Contd.] “We’re incredibly excited by the limitless potential for creative collaboration between generative media platforms and the artistic community.”
Prem Akkaraju, the CEO of Stability AI, said, “James Cameron lives in the future and waits for the rest of us to catch up.”
[Contd.] “The next frontier in visual media will be forged by a true fusion of artist and technology, and Stability AI is leading the charge.”

Do you think leveraging technologies such as AI would be harmful to the artistic expression value in cinema or do you think it shouldn’t be prohibited as filmmakers already use CGI technologies?

Let us know in the comments below!

First published on Wed, Sep 25, 2024

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