Hollywood Stars Launch AI Creators Coalition

The Rise of the Creators Coalition on AI

A new coalition has emerged in the entertainment industry, aiming to advocate for the rights of creators as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the landscape. This group, known as the Creators Coalition on AI, was founded by 18 individuals, including writer-director Daniel Kwan, actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natasha Lyonne, and producer Janet Yang, who previously served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Gordon-Levitt emphasized that the coalition is not exclusive to Hollywood celebrities but is open to all creators and skilled workers, such as podcasters, digital content creators, and newsletter writers. He stated in a video posted on X that the group is united by a shared concern about the unethical business practices of major AI companies rather than the technology itself. "The idea is that through public pressure, through collective action, through potentially litigation and eventually legislation, creators actually have a lot of power if we come together," he said.

The Growing Concerns Around AI in Hollywood

The formation of the Creators Coalition on AI coincides with increasing challenges faced by Hollywood due to the rapid growth of AI tools. Many artists are worried about the use of their likenesses or work without proper permission or compensation. The tech industry argues that it should be allowed to train its AI models using online content under the “fair use” doctrine, which permits limited reproduction of material without copyright holder permission.

Some studios have partnered with AI companies to integrate these tools into areas like marketing and visual effects. For instance, Walt Disney Co. recently signed a licensing deal with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, allowing its iconic characters such as Mickey Mouse and Yoda to be used in the startup's text-to-video tool, Sora.

Kwan, who produced a documentary about AI set to release next year, expressed concerns about the implications of such deals. "On one hand, you can say that this is just a licensing deal for the characters and that’s not a big deal, and it won’t completely change the way our industry works," Kwan told The Hollywood Reporter. "But for a lot of people, it symbolically shows a willingness to work with companies that have not been able to resolve or reconcile the problems.”

Legal Actions and Ethical Considerations

In addition to these concerns, there have been lawsuits filed against some AI companies. Earlier this year, Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery sued AI company Midjourney, accusing it of copyright infringement. These legal actions highlight the growing tension between the entertainment and tech industries.

The Creators Coalition on AI plans to establish an AI advisory committee to develop shared standards, definitions, and best practices for the ethical and artistic use of AI. The group’s principles include transparency, consent, control, and compensation in the use of AI tools, as well as sensitivity to potential job losses and safeguards against misuse and deepfakes.

"This is not a full rejection of AI," the group stated on its website. "The technology is here. This is a commitment to responsible, human-centered innovation."

A Unified Approach

The coalition emphasizes that it is not drawing a line between the tech and entertainment industries or between labor and corporations. Instead, it is distinguishing between those who want to move quickly and those who want to do things right. The idea for the coalition was sparked by Kwan, who produced a documentary about AI, as Gordon-Levitt mentioned in his video.

Work on the group began in the middle of this year, and it has already gained support from notable figures such as actors Natalie Portman, Greta Lee, Kirsten Dunst, and Orlando Bloom.