G7 Ministers Address AI Risks in Cultural Sector

At the recent G7 ministers’ cultural meeting in Naples, Italy, significant concerns regarding the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the cultural sector were raised, Xinhua reported on Sunday.

The three-day talks concluded with a declaration emphasizing both the opportunities and the substantial risks AI poses to cultural and creative industries.

Ministers from the G7 nations noted that AI is increasingly influencing value chains within these sectors, affecting the working conditions and livelihoods of cultural professionals. The leaders committed to collaboratively addressing the ethical, legal, economic, and social implications of Generative AI and AI-driven tools in the cultural landscape.

A key point of discussion was the need for the identification and authentication of cultural content that is entirely or partially generated, modified, or altered by AI systems, where feasible. This focus on AI challenges has been a priority during Italy’s G7 presidency in 2024.

In response to the meeting, a protest occurred in central Naples, where approximately fifty demonstrators criticized the event as a “political showcase,” symbolically rolling out a red carpet to express their dissent. The gathering highlighted the ongoing tension between technological advancement and cultural integrity.