Cabinet weighs AI data centre plan with copyright exemption and artist fund

An industry proposal before cabinet would grant AI companies exemptions to mine creative content in exchange for more than $50 billion in data centre investment and a $350 million annual fund for artists, sources told Guardian Australia. Creatives staged a press conference in parliament house on Wednesday to demand the government maintain existing copyright protections.

They said any exemption would reverse a position the government took last year after criticism from artists, authors and media groups.

Proposal details The plan would allow AI companies to use text and data mining on creative works. In return, the companies would fund the artist compensation program and commit the data centre investment. An independent senator said the proposal amounted to selling out Australian musicians, writers and authors.

The government rejected that characterization and said it had no plans to weaken copyright rules.

Government position A spokesperson for the attorney general said the government remained committed to a copyright framework that protects creative industries while supporting AI innovation. Officials encouraged tech companies and creatives to negotiate licensing deals directly.

The musician Holly Rankin said artists were prepared to reach agreements with technology firms if permission and payment were secured. Guardian Australia is among media companies supporting the campaign to keep current copyright laws in place.