As creators of “born digital” works distributed primarily online, freelance media workers are among those most likely to be affected by generative AI technologies. Writers, photographers, animators, illustrators, graphic designers, podcasters—all of us, our work and our livelihoods, are on the line.
The work we produce is being used to train these systems without our knowledge or consent. Our careers, already precarious and devalued, are increasingly under threat, as corporations turn to generative AI as a “cost effective” silver bullet. It’s no coincidence that the threat of generative AI is emerging at a time when media outlets are struggling to turn a profit, tech and media workers are hit with wave after wave of layoffs, and union membership across the board is at a historic low.
But we, as a union of freelance media workers, also see an opportunity to build power. As the Digital Media Division of the National Writers Union, the Freelance Solidarity Project is organizing freelance digital artists, writers, and other media workers to mount a collective defense. Working together across disciplines, we are stronger and better positioned to protect our work.
Our goals:
- To act as a central hub for information about the usage of generative AI in freelance work, including issues involving the technology, legal and copyright issues, and job security.
- To identify the risks of using generative AI to displace creators, and to communicate those risks to creators, publishers, and government bodies.
- To help freelancers identify the ramifications of contract language relating to generative AI, and to help them negotiate with those ramifications in mind.
- To keep increasing pay transparency so that freelancers can make informed decisions, in general, and keep abreast of how generative AI is affecting rates.
- Where possible, to help draft and push bills and regulations that protect freelance creators.
Join us if you’re interested in learning more about generative AI and its effects on our industry and work, and if you’d like to work with like-minded peers on ensuring the safety of our profession and the role we play in society.
Reach out to freelance.solidarity@gmail.com to learn more.