ARK: New App Shields Artists' Creations from AI Theft

Select Language:

The artwork 'La Comtesse de Belamy' (2018) created by the French startup Obvious, using a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) that learns to create new images based on an archive of existing paintings, is presented during a Reuters interview in Paris, France, on September 21, 2018. — Reuters — The artwork ‘La Comtesse de Belamy’ (2018), conceived by the French entrepreneurial group Obvious, was produced using a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), an algorithm that generates new images based on a database of existing artwork. This piece was showcased during a Reuters interview in Paris, France, on September 21, 2018. — Reuters

In 2008, screenwriter Ed Bennett-Coles encountered what he called a personal “crisis point” in his career after reading about artificial intelligence creating its first screenplay.

As reported by AFP, this moment was pivotal in his creative journey.

Fast forward almost twenty years, and Bennett-Coles, together with his friend Jamie Hartman, a successful songwriter, has unveiled ARK, a blockchain-based application aimed at safeguarding human-generated art against the rising threat of AI-produced content.

“AI is stepping in and taking away many jobs,” remarked Hartman. He added that their app stands as a strong statement: “No… this is our work.” He also emphasized, “This is human, and we are the ones who determine its value because we are its creators.”

ARK is tailored to monitor and protect intellectual property from its initial idea to the final product. For instance, users can upload a rough demo or concept, which instantly serves as proof of creation.

Furthermore, the app incorporates features such as non-disclosure agreements, biometric authentication, and blockchain-verified timestamps to validate ownership. Collaborators can also document their contributions to ensure fair recognition and compensation.

“ARK challenges the belief that only the final product holds value,” Bennett-Coles noted. Hartman emphasized that their app is designed to protect the human creative process, which they believe is increasingly threatened by AI advancements.

Set for a full launch in summer 2025, ARK has already garnered investment from Claritas Capital, a venture capital firm, and has partnered strategically with BMI, a performing rights organization. According to Bennett-Coles, ARK must be decentralized to grant creators full control over their intellectual property. “To ensure that creators have autonomy and control over their IP and their future, decentralization is essential,” he explained.

Reflecting on the influence of AI, Bennett-Coles stated, “I saw a quote yesterday that captures it perfectly: growth for growth’s sake is the philosophy of a cancer cell. And that’s AI.”

He compared the journey of creating art to the experience of a child going to a butcher with their grandparent, rather than simply ordering meat online. “The drive that Jamie takes to the studio may be just as crucial to the songwriting process as what occurs in the studio itself,” he added.

Hartman concluded that ARK acts as “a check and balance for humanity.”