Salesforce is embroiled in a proposed class action lawsuit filed by authors Molly Tanzer and Jennifer Gilmore, who claim the company used thousands of copyrighted books without permission to train its artificial intelligence software. The lawsuit alleges that Salesforce's xGen AI models were trained using pirated books written by the authors and others, infringing on their copyrights.
The lawsuit highlights the growing controversy surrounding AI training practices. Tanzer and Gilmore's attorney, Joseph Saveri, emphasized the need for transparency and fair compensation for content creators. "It's essential that companies using copyrighted material for AI products are transparent, and it's only fair that our clients are fairly compensated when this happens." Saveri has brought similar lawsuits against tech companies, including OpenAI and Meta Platforms.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has previously criticized AI companies for using "stolen" training data, stating that paying content creators would be "very easy to do." The authors' lawsuit argues that Benioff's statements ring hollow, given Salesforce's alleged actions. This lawsuit is part of a larger trend, with dozens of lawsuits filed against tech companies for allegedly misusing copyrighted material in AI training. Anthropic, for instance, agreed to a $1.5 billion settlement with authors in August.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the AI industry. As AI models become increasingly sophisticated, the demand for high-quality training data grows. Companies must navigate complex copyright laws and ensure they have the necessary permissions to use copyrighted material. Salesforce has declined to comment on the lawsuit, but the case is likely to spark important discussions about AI development and intellectual property rights.
