Canadian company Telus has pledged not to use AI to create or copy Indigenous art as part of the operator’s ongoing commitment to the ethical use of technology.
The operator released its 2021 Reconciliation Pledge, in which it states that it is committed to developing productive relationships with Indigenous peoples, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.
Bloomberg reported that AI-generated content that copies Indigenous art has created controversy in Australia, with artists complaining that their works were being used without permission to create items sold online.
The news agency reported that Canada’s Foreign Ministry apologized in December for publishing an AI-generated photo depicting an indigenous woman.
Pam Snively, Head of Data and Trust at Telus, said: “A fundamental aspect of our AI and data ethics efforts is listening and learning from those who are impacted by the technology and who interact with it.
“We are committed to working side by side with Indigenous people to preserve their rich cultural heritage and creative endeavors and hope this will inspire other organizations to follow suit.” »
The AI operator’s work includes training a recommendation engine with classification of more than 500 images for a client, according to its website. Telus International is also developing an enterprise-grade AI engine for its customers.
