The British arts must not be sacrificed for speculative AI profits, colleagues say

Britain’s creative industries must not be sacrificed in the pursuit of speculative profits in AI technology, a House of Lords committee has warned, as the government prepares to reveal the economic costs of proposals to change copyright rules.

A report by colleagues called on ministers to develop a licensing system for the use of creative works in AI products and abandon proposals that would allow tech firms to use the work of novelists, artists, writers and journalists without permission.

The call from the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee comes as the government prepares to publish an economic impact assessment of proposed changes to copyright law by March 18, as well as a progress report on a consultation on the law review.

Barbara Keeley, a Labor politician and committee chair, said Britain’s creative industries faced a “clear and present danger” from AI firms using their work without credit or payment.

“AI may contribute to our future economic growth, but…