How Creators and Marketers Can Safeguard Their Work When Using AI
Let's talk about AI and how it's shaking up the creative world. With AI now capable of mimicking human voices and churning out visuals that used to take pros hours or days, the game has changed. But here's the thing: as cool as this tech is, we need to make sure creators and marketers are getting the credit and protection they deserve.
Even though laws like the NO FAKES Act are popping up, I don't think they're enough to keep everything fair. So, I've got some tips on how to protect your work while making the most of AI, and how to stay on top of this ever-evolving landscape.
Team Up and Communicate
First things first: communication is key. Whether you’re working with a brand or a fellow creator, it’s super important to set clear guidelines right from the start. Make sure everyone’s on the same page about how the content will be used, where it’ll be shared, and who gets the credit.
Set the scope of the project early on to avoid any misunderstandings later. If someone’s only paying for specific content, they shouldn’t expect to get all the raw files too. And hey, if they do start tweaking your work after you’ve delivered it, that’s a no-go unless they’re paying for it.
Don’t forget to discuss how the content will be promoted, and make sure they tag you when they share it on social media. If they’re cool with it, plan to reshare the content on your own channels to boost your portfolio.
And for content that’s staying behind closed doors or for internal use only, make sure you’ve got an NDA in place to keep everything above board. Always include a clause that ensures you get credited, no matter how your work is used. And if your work gets fed into an AI model or used in some other derivative way, make sure you’re getting paid for that too.
Get Tech-Savvy
Beyond contracts, there’s some tech you should be using to protect your work. Always add metadata to your exported files—this encrypts your info right into the media, making it a lot harder for someone to claim it as their own.
While there are some efforts to protect content—like TikTok’s partnership with Adobe for content credentials—these aren’t foolproof. Watermarks can be removed, and AI can tweak videos in ways that make it nearly impossible to trace them back to the original creator.
Blockchain technology, though, might offer some solid solutions. It’s already being used with NFTs to prove ownership and stop unauthorized copies. If we could apply similar tech to other types of content, it might be a game-changer for making sure creators get the credit they deserve.
Keep an Eye on the Law
Now, let’s talk legal stuff. The NO FAKES Act is a step toward protecting people from having their likeness used by AI without permission. But let’s be real—the government hasn’t exactly been great at keeping up with tech. Just look at how long it took them to deal with Napster back in the day.
Even if you’re cool with your voice or likeness being used, it’s tough to make sure you’re getting the credit and compensation you deserve under current laws. So, while we wait for better regulations, it’s up to us to stay informed and protect our own work.
Stay Ahead of the Game
Generative AI tools are getting smarter by the day, and they’re scraping data from all over the place—sometimes without creators even knowing. Before you dive into using these tools, make sure you understand what you’re agreeing to. Some of these terms might automatically opt you in to let them use your content in ways you didn’t expect, which could be a big problem if you’re under an NDA.
And as AI continues to improve, it’s going to get harder to tell what’s original content and what’s AI-generated. Tools like Luma AI’s Dream Machine are already creating videos that look almost real, so it’s crucial to stay up-to-date on how this tech could impact your work.
Joining professional organizations or unions, like SAG-AFTRA, can also help you stay informed and advocate for your rights as a creator.
Look at the Bright Side
Despite the challenges, AI isn’t all bad news for creators. In fact, it can save you a ton of time and help lower the barriers to entry, making it easier for more people to express themselves creatively. From brainstorming ideas to putting the finishing touches on a project, AI can be a real asset if you know how to use it right.
But remember, the human touch is still essential. Knowing how to bring everything together in a way that connects with your audience and drives action is something only you can do.
At the end of the day, for AI to truly benefit the creative community, we need stronger protections in place for creators. By ensuring proper credit and compensation, we can create a world where human creativity and AI work together in harmony.
Hey there I’m Kylie Simao, owner of a boutique social media marketing agency dedicated to helping new, local and small businesses who want to promote themselves online using social media.