Instead of worrying about “wait, not like that”, I think we need to reframe the conversation to “wait, not only like that” or “wait, not in ways that threaten open access itself”.
Anyone at an AI company who stops to think for half a second should be able to recognize they have a vampiric relationship with the commons. By operating in this purely extractive way, they destroy the things that underpin their businesses.
It would be wise for these companies to begin prioritizing the ongoing health of the commons. It would also be wise for the rest of us to not rely on AI companies to come to their senses or develop a conscience en masse, and instead force them to engage on creators’ terms.
