Generative artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT or Midjourney offers the possibility of creating texts and images at breakneck speed. However, these technologies are not without risks: they generate a mix of correct and incorrect information that is difficult to verify, imitate existing works and paraphrase content without clearly disclosing what data they are based on. The origin of the material used often remains unclear, especially when it comes to legally protected works. The companies that develop and operate these systems leave both the data sources and the risks and side effects of the algorithms used in a ‘black box’. Generative AI systems access gigantic amounts of digital texts, images and sounds, often without regard for copyrights. Assessing the legal situation for affected publishers, authors and other creatives is only just beginning. In Europe, the AI Act offers a first approach to regulation, but protection against companies like OpenAI, Google or Meta remains difficult to enforce. Furthermore, legal violations that have already occurred and the economic impact on knowledge and cultural work are largely disregarded.
In the face of these challenges, the question arises as to how our thinking, creative work and the definition of authorship are changing with the increasing use of such technologies. How does the availability of machine-generated content influence our view of humanity, the meaning of human communication and cultural work? The planned ad hoc project aims to find answers to these questions and to discuss possible solutions. To this end, several interdisciplinary workshops will be held, bringing together experts from various fields to discuss the social, legal and cultural implications of the use of generative AI. A major public event will bring together the perspectives of literary, journalistic and scientific authors in particular and promote exchange.
Content? Context!
Generative AI and creative authorship in knowledge work and literature
Interactive symposium
10 December 2024 | 09:30 – 17:30
11 December 2024 | 09:30 – 16:30
Centralstation Darmstadt
How does thinking, creating, mental and textual work, legal concepts, communication and the view of humanity change under the increased use of automatically producing computer technologies, so-called ‘generative AI’? How can the consequences of the revaluation and devaluation of human authorship be measured? What could legal, economic and ethical regulations look like?
Verführbarkeiten: KI und Autorenschaft in Literatur und Wissensarbeit
Audio feature by Ludger Fittkau from the programme Fazit on Deutschlandfunk Kultur | 10 December 2024
Listen to the audio feature on Deutschlandfunk Kultur
(in German only)
KI und Urheberschaft – Symposium in Darmstadt
Audio feature by Ludger Fittkau from the programme Kultur heute on Deutschlandfunk | 11. Dezember 2024
Listen to the audio feature on Deutschlandfunk
(in German only)
„Das Prinzip der datenbasierten Tischtennisbälle“
Article by Sabine Cronau in Börsenblatt – Wochenmagazin für den Deutschen Buchhandel | 19 December 2024
read the article in Börsenblatt
(in German only)
Gesellschaftliche Folgen von KI-Einsatz in Massenmedien – Tagung in Darmstadt
Audio feature by Ludger Fittkau from the programme @mediasres on Deutschlandfunk | 09. Januar 2025
Listen to the audio feature on Deutschlandfunk
(in German only)
Principal Investigators
Prof. Dr. Petra Gehring, Technische Universität Darmstadt | more information
Nina George, European Writers’ Council, Brüssel/Berlin/Bretagne | more information
