Weekly Column: Is AI in a co-existence battle with Human Innovation?

In his capacity as a Columnist for California Sports Lawyer®, Founder and Managing Attorney Jeremy Evans has written a column about the potential for a growing battle or amity and peace between generative artificial intelligence and human innovation.

You can read the full column below.

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) continues its growth. AI is growing in knowledge and influence. The owners of AI businesses are continuing to limit the outputs of AI as they push against the limitations of copyright law and privacy.

AI as a tool is unlimited without guardrails and will only get smarter with time. Think about how your phone is “smart” and learns how to adapt to your use and engagement. Even the battery knows when to charge and how long or to reach an optimum level. The applications on your phone work in a similar manner. They gather and analyze data and usage to better serve the user, but also to sell more product and services. Remember, generative AI is constantly learning.

As an example, many people now use cell phones to communicate through direct messaging as opposed to texting. It is a dangerous game though because now private conversations are no longer between you and the recipient, but you, the recipient, and the social media application and the company or partners with the access depending on privacy levels and protections. Therefore, it should come as no surprise as to why the new iPhones also have Apple Intelligence and work seamlessly with ChatGPT.

With the music industry agreeing, or re-agreeing to guardrails in making musical lyrics, with such tools already having limitations in filmmaking according to union agreements, there seems to be a consistent battle between letting AI create against human innovation. It is a battle that will continue to play out as along as AI is allowed to develop and create and re-create itself. Another more pleasant or altruistic version of this scenario is where AI is simply viewed as human innovation that is extending human creativity and innovation.

The problems lies in the use of AI and maybe the view of AI use. Meaning, AI can be the innovation tool that helps relieve humans of the mundane to be more creative and analytical. On the other hand, AI can be the tool that makes humans apathetic and more reliant on technology. Maybe both scenarios are true.

It is clear that rules and practices will guide the relationship between AI and humans. There is also the scenario where AI becomes powerful, not necessarily by force, but by reliance and dependency. People used to rely on research and knowledge. Google searches and generative AI platforms are increasingly becoming more dependable partners, right or wrong. In the above scenario, generative AI may replace human consciousness and intuition.

People are sometimes willing to give up their freedom for safety and security. In a similar tone, people may increasingly be willing to give up the process of learning, researching, experiencing, and creating for a more efficient path to a solution or result. It is uncertain whether AI will be a generative intelligence assistant, partner, or overlord. Part of the future is based on humankind’s interaction with AI. However, left unregulated and unchecked, AI does seem to carry an air inevitability as it grows exponentially in knowledge and influence with time.

About Jeremy M. Evans:

Jeremy M. Evans is the Chief Entrepreneur Officer, Founder & Managing Attorney at California Sports Lawyer®, representing entertainment, media, and sports clients in contractual, intellectual property, and dealmaking matters. Evans is an award-winning attorney and industry leader based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He can be reached at Jeremy@CSLlegal.com. www.CSLlegal.com.