The UK government is contemplating a consultation on artificial intelligence, privacy, and copyright. It’s hard not to think of Michelle Obama’s words: “There is simply no time for that kind of foolishness.”
Despite pushback from cultural sectors, the government appears ready to align with the US, favoring Big Tech over artists and creatives. This is a risky moment for a cultural sector often called “the UK crown jewels,” contributing £125 billion, or 5.7%, to the economy in 2022.
In the US, Donald Trump has already dismissed the director of the US Copyright Office after her department suggested that more data doesn’t equate to better real-world outcomes. This goes against the interests of the tech titans who want to extract everything from our creative industries without paying a dime. Let’s call it what it is: theft, not training.
This issue isn’t just ethical; it’s economic. The notion that the UK can “win the global race” in technology and AI is unrealistic. The government’s recent AI Opportunities Action Plan includes a line about AI being “mainlined into the veins of this enterprising nation,” but trade body Tech UK points out gaps in strategy, particularly around semiconductor supply.
Take the recent commitment of £750 million towards a supercomputer in Edinburgh. In contrast, Microsoft spent over $55 billion in fiscal year 2024 on AI infrastructure, while Google plans to invest around $50 billion and Meta aims for up to $40 billion. These amounts dwarf what the UK is offering.
Meta recently negotiated a $15 billion stake in Scale AI, with individual salaries reaching as high as $75 million. The rising costs of training AI models are staggering—Dario Amodei from Anthropic indicated these could hit $1 billion soon. He warns that only the largest players will survive this financial arms race.
With the US House Committee moving towards a 10-year pause on AI regulation, the UK is cozying up to tech giants, with comments from Keir Starmer mirroring Big Tech’s “move fast and break things” ethos.
The creative and cultural industries deserve government backing to protect their futures. The BFI report on AI and copyright confirms that, without strong policies, generative AI will exacerbate existing economic challenges in these sectors. Yet, attempts to safeguard copyrights through the Data (Use and Access) Bill are faltering, stuck in controversy while the government looks to favor tech interests.
Meanwhile, artists in the US face similar challenges under Big Tech’s influence. A recent dinner showcased the stark contrast in access and power; while tech CEOs dined with lawmakers, artists struggled for attention.
UK music leader Tom Kiehl warns that the government is about to sacrifice the music industry to appease American tech firms. Alex Mahon from Channel 4 stresses that the creative sector is growing significantly faster than others and that allowing language models to exploit this data without compensation could harm the industry’s future.
The government should advocate for those at risk, protecting cultural sectors instead of catering to those intent on financial gain. Selling off the UK’s cultural heritage to Silicon Valley would be a grave mistake. Do they understand who they’re up against? The existing copyright laws are clear: text and data mining for commercial use requires a license. It’s high time the government uphold its own laws rather than sidestepping them for tech favor.