Kickstarter Introduces a New AI-Related Policy
"We want to make sure that any project that is funded through Kickstarter includes human creative input and properly credits and obtains permission for any artist's work that it references."
Kickstarter, a US-based public benefit and crowdfunding platform, has unveiled a new AI-related policy set to prioritize transparency, credit, and consent, as well as outline a well-defined framework for Kickstarter's approach towards projects that involve or utilize AI technology.
The formulation of this policy was the result of extensive discussions with creators, including members of the company's Community Advisory Council, backers, fellow platform leaders, and Kickstarter's own staff. "As a platform for creators, we have a responsibility to directly engage in this ongoing conversation and to establish, for the first time, a clear framework for how Kickstarter approaches projects that incorporate or build AI," commented the team.
Starting from August 29, 2023, creators submitting projects involving AI will be prompted to share specific details about how they utilize AI during the project submission process. The new policy does not outright prohibit the use of AI in Kickstarter projects; rather, it ensures that every funded project on the platform includes significant human creative input. Additionally, the policy emphasizes the need to properly credit and obtain permission for any artistic work that the project references.
"To be allowed on Kickstarter, projects utilizing AI tools for generating images, text, or any other output must disclose relevant details on their project page. This includes information about how the creator plans to use AI content in their project, as well as which elements of their project will be wholly original work and which elements will be created using AI outputs," reads the company's announcement. "Projects developing AI technology, tools, or software must disclose information about any databases and data the creator intends to use. The creator must also indicate how these sources handle consent and credit for the data they utilize. If the sources don't have processes or safeguards in place to manage consent, such as through an opt-out or opt-in mechanism, then Kickstarter is unlikely to allow the project."
According to the team, failure to disclose any use of AI during the project submission process may lead to the suspension of the project. Deliberate attempts to evade the guidelines or misrepresent the project will result in future restrictions from submitting Kickstarter projects.
Starting on Tuesday, August 29, the team will begin enforcing the AI policy strictly for all projects submitted on or after that date. There will be no retroactive enforcement for projects submitted before this date, as per the team's announcement.
"In support of the new policy, we will introduce a new set of questions in the project submission process. The creator will be asked to share if their project uses AI technology to generate outputs, if the project's primary focus is on developing generative AI technology, or if it involves another use of AI," adds the team. "We'll also ask whether the creator has consent from owners of the works that are used to produce the AI-generated portion of their project. Once submitted, these projects will then be put through a human review process by our moderation team."
Moreover, the team emphasized that this policy is designed to be iterative, planning to periodically reassess the policy's effectiveness and explore ways to enhance it over time.
"This policy is not just new; it’s iterative. As AI technology continues to evolve and we continue conversations with our community, we’ll revisit how this policy is working and how we can strengthen it over time."
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