Kickstarter, the popular crowdfunding platform, is taking a proactive step towards ensuring transparency and accountability in projects that utilize artificial intelligence (AI). The company has announced that starting from August 29th, it will require all creators to disclose if and how they are using AI in their projects. This new policy is aimed at ensuring that human creative input remains central to projects and that proper credit is given to any artists whose work is referenced.
Susannah Page-Katz, Kickstarter’s director of trust and safety, emphasized the importance of transparency and specificity in disclosing the use of AI. By providing clear information about the role of AI in their projects, creators can build trust among backers and set their projects up for success. This move comes as AI continues to play an increasingly prominent role in various fields and raises concerns about its ethical and creative implications.
To enforce this new policy, Kickstarter is introducing a set of AI-related questions in the project submission process. Creators will be required to disclose whether their project generates outputs using AI, focuses on developing generative AI technology, or uses AI in other ways. Additionally, they must reveal which parts of their projects involve entirely original work.
Furthermore, creators will need to clarify whether they have obtained permission to use works or data that are employed in AI-generated aspects of their projects. They must provide information about how their data sources handle consent and credit. Kickstarter will closely scrutinize projects that fail to demonstrate proper consent processes, such as opt-in or opt-out mechanisms, and may disallow such projects from being featured on the platform.
Kickstarter aims to maintain the integrity of its platform by suspending projects that do not comply with the disclosure requirements related to AI usage. Creators who attempt to circumvent Kickstarter’s policies or intentionally misrepresent their projects will be barred from submitting future projects.
The platform is taking a proactive approach to address community concerns surrounding AI. The new policy was formulated through collaboration with input from Kickstarter staff, creators, backers, and other platform leaders. By disclosing the use of AI in a new section on the project pages in the creator’s own words, Kickstarter seeks to provide backers with a clear understanding of the AI’s role and impact in each project.
As the field of AI continues to rapidly evolve, Kickstarter acknowledges the need for flexibility and adaptability. The platform plans to revisit the policy regularly and make necessary modifications to stay abreast of the latest developments in AI technology.
In conclusion, Kickstarter’s new policy mandating the disclosure of AI usage in projects is a step forward in fostering transparency, accountability, and ethical considerations in the crowdfunding space. By being upfront about their use of AI, creators can instill confidence in backers and promote a responsible and creative approach to AI integration in various projects. Kickstarter’s commitment to staying engaged with the evolving landscape of AI reflects its dedication to maintaining a trustworthy and innovative platform for creators and backers alike.
