It is revealed that one quarter of illustrators and one third of translators have lost their jobs due to AI

The Society of Authors (SoA), a creators' rights organization, conducted a survey of creators, including its members, in January 2024 and reported that it found that more than a quarter of illustrators and more than a third of translators had lost their jobs due to generative AI.

SoA survey reveals a third of translators and quarter of illustrators losing work to AI - The Society of Authors
https://www2.societyofauthors.org/2024/04/11/soa-survey-reveals-a-third-of-translators-and-quarter-of-illustrators-losing-work-to-ai/

In January 2024, SoA conducted a survey of 12,500 members and other authors, receiving 787 responses. According to the survey results, about 22% of respondents said they had used generative AI in their work. By occupation, 12% of illustrators, 37% of translators, 20% of novelists, and about 25% of non-fiction writers said they had used AI. In addition, about 31% of illustrators and writers said they had used generative AI to generate ideas.

However, some translators and illustrators are also being asked to use generative AI by publishers or client organisations: 8% of translators and 5% of illustrators said they have used generative AI in their work at their clients' request.

The survey results also highlight concerns about the impact of generative AI on the careers of creatives, SoA said, with a particular group of creatives reporting losing their jobs or seeing their work devalued by the rise of generative AI.

26% of illustrators and over 36% of translators said they have already lost work to generative AI. Additionally, over 37% of illustrators and over 43% of translators said their work has reduced their income due to generative AI. When asked about the impact on their future creative income, over 65% of novelists, over 57% of non-fiction writers, 77% of translators, and 78% of illustrators believe that generative AI will have a negative impact.

More than 86% of respondents were concerned that their style, voice, and appearance could be imitated or reproduced in the output of generative AI. Similarly, more than 86% were concerned that the use of generative AI would devalue human creations.

Some respondents expressed concern that generative AI could replace human creatives, particularly in the areas of copywriting and content creation, which they fear could lead to a decline in quality and diversity in the creative industries, the SoA noted.

Nearly everyone agreed with the need to regulate generative AI, specifically that copyright holders should be required to consent before their work is used in the development of the system, that credit and compensation should be provided, and that the output of generative AI systems should be labeled as such.

94% of respondents want credit and compensation when their work is used to develop or output generative AI, and 95% believe such use requires consent.

Additionally, 95% of respondents want governments to put in place safeguards and regulations to ensure consent, compensation and transparency. And over 90% of respondents said publishers and other organizations should disclose when generative AI is used to assist with audio, video, covers, illustrations, decision-making, editing or translation. And 97% of respondents said consumers have a right to transparency and should be informed that what they read, watch or listen to has been generated in whole or in part by AI.

The SoA said that while generative AI could be a useful tool for some creators, urgent action is needed to ensure consent, compensation, transparency, and respect for creators' rights. They also called on AI developers to work with the industry to develop models to reward creators for past infringement and future use, and pledge to protect human creativity and copyright.