On October 17th and 18th, 2024, the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) and several of its members participated in roundtable discussions organized by Canadian Heritage in partnership with Mila to guide the development of a Cultural data strategy for artificial intelligence. The CDCE thanks Canadian Heritage for initiating this essential collaboration between the AI research community and the cultural sector. We look forward to continued partnership as the government deepens its commitment to developing public policies that prioritize and actively support the cultural sector. It is crucial to acknowledge that generative AI will play a transformative role in our future, and there is a clear path forward that supports both the diversity of cultural expressions and technological progress.
During these roundtable discussions, the CDCE reaffirmed the importance of protecting human creators and artists, highlighting that over the past year, it has put forward concrete recommendations to ensure that as AI continues to evolve, its development safeguards creators and their business partners’ rights and upholds principles of transparency, fair compensation, and informed consent.
The Coalition also proposed concrete measures to ensure that the cultural sector is well-prepared to navigate the evolving generative AI landscape. These measures highlight the urgent need to establish indicators that continuously track the economic impacts of AI, as well as its effects on employment, artistic creation, and cultural consumption, to inform strategies for adaptation and innovation. Moreover, the CDCE advocated for the creation of an AI ethics charter specifically designed for the cultural sector. It is essential that the cultural sector has the necessary resources to lead the development of these tools, with the CDCE ideally positioned to play a central role in this effort.
“At this pivotal moment in AI development, it is essential to take a thoughtful and collaborative approach to ensure AI serves the interests of creators, their business partners, and society as a whole. Protecting their rights, along with preserving Canada’s cultural integrity diversity, must be central to any AI strategy impacting the cultural sector” declared Hélène Messier, Co-Chair of the CDCE.
The CDCE calls on Canada, as the first signatory of UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, to lead in shaping AI systems that recognize not only the immense economic value of the cultural sector but also place the protection and promotion of human creativity at forefront of innovation.