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The AI betrayal of the artists who define Japan
The artists who expanded Japan’s global influence through the likes of Dragon Ball, Pokemon and Studio Ghibli need stronger copyright protection from tech companies.
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Many artists feel that their work is being taken to create the very tools that then threaten their livelihoods.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Catherine Thorbecke
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Japan’s artists have given the nation an outsize influence around the globe, with manga, anime and other cultural exports producing some of the world’s most beloved figures – while its once-dominant technology sector sputtered.
From Dragon Ball to Pokemon to Studio Ghibli, this body of ingenuity emanating from the minds and hearts of its people is what has made Japan uniquely Japan. But now, its creative industries are under threat as the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) tools makes it easy for anyone to mimic these art forms. The country must update its laws to protect the people whose works have defined its culture.
