Elton John criticized the British AI development plan

British musician Elton John called the proposed changes to copyright in the context of AI in the UK “criminal” and accused officials of “stealing” from artists.

“The danger is that young artists do not have the resources to continue to challenge and fight against big tech. It’s criminal, and I feel incredibly betrayed,” said the singer.

He responded to the proposal to soften copyright laws in the country that allow AI developers to train models on any available works.

According to the composer, allowing companies to use artists’ content without payment will lead to “theft on a large scale.”

The upcoming bill is part of a broader initiative called the “Action Plan for AI Opportunities Implementation.” It outlines recommendations for strengthening the sector in the UK, focusing on infrastructure growth, integration of public services, and development of domestic talents.

According to government estimates, AI could boost labor productivity in the UK by 1.5% per year. This will lead to economic growth of £47 billion ($62.5 billion ) per year.

Recall that in September 2023, the Authors Guild of the United States, which defends the rights of writers, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI for the alleged mass use of licensed works in training a large language model.