AI’s Impact on the Creator Economy: Threatening Creators’ Livelihoods and the Open Web

The rise of artificial intelligence is posing a threat to creators in more ways than one, as highlighted by cookbook author and YouTuber Lisa Bryan and CEO of ad management platform Raptive, Michael Sanchez, at the recent Axios AI+ Summit in New York.

One of the major concerns for creators like Bryan is the use of their work for training data by companies with generative AI models. This not only raises issues of copyright infringement but also leads to inaccurate AI search summaries that could potentially steal creators’ livelihoods and weaken their brands.

The recent launch of AI overviews by Google, which summarize search results instead of directing users to different links, has further exacerbated the problem. Creators fear that this new feature will result in a decline in traffic and revenue, as users may rely solely on the AI summaries instead of visiting their original content.

Bryan described the quality of AI summaries as an “amalgamated mishmash,” highlighting the inaccuracies and lack of nuance in the generated content. Despite Google’s claims that it is providing more links with its AI overviews, creators like Sanchez have found that their traffic has significantly decreased as a result.

In light of these challenges, both Sanchez and Bryan are calling for more transparency from tech companies regarding their use of creator content. They are seeking clarity from Washington and urging legislators to address issues of anti-competitive behavior, copyright infringement, and fair use in the digital landscape.

As the creator economy continues to evolve, it is crucial for stakeholders to come together to ensure that creators are fairly compensated for their work and that their brands are protected in the age of AI.