Cloud computing giant Salesforce is facing a class-action lawsuit from two authors, Molly Tanzer and Jennifer Gilmore, over the use of their copyrighted books to train its xGen AI models. The lawsuit alleges that Salesforce infringed copyright laws by incorporating their works without permission. Tanzer and Gilmore claim the AI’s language processing capabilities were built using their books, which they argue constitutes a violation of their intellectual property rights.
The authors assert that the use of their work by Salesforce has not only undermined their creative efforts but also potentially impacted their ability to profit from their books. They are seeking compensation for the unauthorized use of their content and are asking for a class-action status to represent other authors who may have had their work similarly used by the company. Salesforce has not yet commented on the allegations, but the case highlights the growing concerns around AI training data and copyright infringement in the tech industry.
This lawsuit is part of a broader legal landscape where creators are increasingly challenging tech companies over the use of their content in AI training models. The case could set a precedent for how copyright laws are applied to AI technologies, potentially influencing future litigation and regulatory frameworks. As AI continues to evolve, the ethical and legal implications of its development will remain a significant point of debate among policymakers, industry leaders, and content creators.