Recently, OpenAI and Google pressed the government for permission to train their artificial intelligence models on copyrighted works without prior consent from creators. The two entities argued that it was a "matter of national security." This request was made under the "AI action plan" initiated by the Trump administration, which sought input from private sector organizations, industry groups, and governments on the complex issue of machine-learning tools. It aims to strengthen the United States' position while China continues to advance rapidly with initiatives like DeepSeek.
OpenAI stated: "There is no doubt that AI developers in the PRC [People's Republic of China] will benefit from unrestricted access to data, including copyrighted material, that will enhance their models." They warned that if Chinese developers have unlimited data access while American companies are denied fair access, the AI race would be effectively over. This prompted a strong reaction from the cultural industry, as a collective of 400 Hollywood figures urged the President to exercise caution.
In a letter addressed to the Trump administration, particularly the Office of Science and Technology Policy at the White House, these industry leaders called for strict limitations to remain in place. They emphasized that the global leadership of the U.S. in AI should not come at the expense of essential creative industries, which support over 2.3 million jobs and generate over $229 billion in annual wages.
