Senators Propose “No Fakes Act” to Protect Against Unauthorized AI Replicas

Senators introduce bill to protect against unauthorized AI replicas: Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) are introducing the updated “No Fakes Act” to prevent the creation of AI replicas without consent, sparked by actress Scarlett Johansson’s recent accusation against OpenAI.

• The bill would grant individuals a federal property right to approve the use of their voice, appearance, or likeness in AI replicas, with legal consequences for unauthorized use.
• The protection would extend to both celebrities and everyday people, according to Sen. Coons.
• OpenAI claims it never intended to mimic Johansson’s voice and had hired a different voice actress for their conversational AI system.

Legislative process and challenges: Sen. Coons hopes to move the bill out of committee before the end of the current Congress, but faces challenges in navigating the interests of various stakeholders.

• The updated proposal incorporates significant changes resulting from months of “challenging” negotiations between groups representing performers, artists, and tech platforms.
• Finding a suitable legislative vehicle to advance the bill may prove difficult given the limited time remaining in the current congressional session.

Broader implications for AI regulation: The “No Fakes Act” represents a significant entry in the ongoing congressional debate surrounding AI guardrails and the need to protect individuals’ rights in the face of rapidly advancing AI technologies.

• As AI becomes increasingly sophisticated in replicating human voices, appearances, and likeness, the potential for misuse and unauthorized exploitation grows.
• The Johansson-OpenAI controversy highlights the urgency of establishing clear legal frameworks to govern the use of AI in creative industries and beyond.
• While the bill aims to strike a balance between protecting individual rights and fostering innovation, finding consensus among diverse stakeholders may prove challenging, reflecting the complexity of regulating AI technologies.