AI is stealing Indigenous Australian art and churning out ‘Temu slop’, artist says
Summary
Pitjantjatjara artist Sally Scales says AI systems use First Nations artwork and cultural knowledge without permission, then generate and sell imitations that can harm artists and misrepresent Indigenous culture. Artists and experts are calling for stronger control over how cultural material is used, including through a proposed framework to expand creators’ rights.Key Facts
- Sally Scales chairs the National Gallery of Australia’s First Nations advisory group.
- Scales says AI-generated imitations undermine artists’ agency and the authenticity of their work.
- Experts warn that AI systems can collect online Indigenous art and cultural material without consent or compensation.
- The National Association for the Visual Arts says AI-generated Aboriginal-style designs can spread misinformation and cause cultural and economic harm.
- Law professor Kathy Bowrey says AI can let companies reuse commissioned images without permission and compete with the original artists.
- Terri Janke has documented AI scraping Indigenous art-centre websites, removing artists’ names and altering artwork.
- The article says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to protect Australian creatives from copyright theft, while Attorney General Michelle Rowland says there are no plans to weaken copyright protections.
- Bowrey and creative technologies expert Oliver Bown have proposed a Copyright Plus framework to give creators more control over the use of their work.
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