Hundreds of creatives warn against an AI slop future | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAICESHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hundreds of creatives warn against an AI slop futureComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...AICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechHundreds of creatives warn against an AI slop futureCate Blanchett, Cyndi Lauper, George Saunders, and other creatives say that AI companies are “trying to change the law so they can keep stealing American artistry.”Cate Blanchett, Cyndi Lauper, George Saunders, and other creatives say that AI companies are “trying to change the law so they can keep stealing American artistry.”by Mia SatoCloseMia SatoFeatures Writer, The VergePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Mia SatoJan 22, 2026, 5:01 AM UTCLinkShareGiftCath Virginia / The VergeMia SatoCloseMia SatoPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Mia Sato is features writer with five years of experience covering the companies that shape technology and the people who use their tools.Around 800 artists, writers, actors, and musicians signed on to a new campaign against what they call “theft at a grand scale” by AI companies. The signatories of the campaign — called “Stealing Isn’t Innovation” — include authors George Saunders and Jodi Picoult, actors Cate Blanchett and Scarlett Johansson, and musicians like the band R.E.M., Billy Corgan, and The Roots.“Driven by fierce competition for leadership in the new GenAI technology, profit-hungry technology companies, including those among the richest in the world as well as private equity-backed ventures, have copied a massive amount of creative content online without authorization or payment to those who created it,” a press release reads. “This illegal intellectual property grab fosters an information ecosystem dominated by misinformation, deepfakes, and a vapid artificial avalanche of low-quality materials [‘AI slop’], risking AI model collapse and directly threatening America’s AI superiority and international competitiveness.”The advocacy effort is from the Human Artistry Campaign, a group of organizations including the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), professional sports players unions, and performers unions like SAG-AFTRA. The Stealing Isn’t Innovation campaign messages will appear in full-page ads in news outlets and on social media. Specifically, the campaign calls for licensing agreements and “a healthy enforcement environment,” along with the right for artists to opt out of their work being used to train generative AI.On the federal level, President Donald Trump and his tech industry allies have been attempting to control how states regulate AI and punish those that try. At the industry level, tech companies and rights owners who were once on opposing sides are increasingly cutting licensing deals that allow AI companies to use protected work — licensing content appears to be a solution both parties can live with, at least for now. Major record labels, for example, have now partnered with AI music startups to provide their catalogues for AI remixing and model training. Digital publishers, some of which have sued AI companies training on their work, have backed a licensing standard that outlets can use to block their content from surfacing in AI search results. Some outlets have signed individual deals with tech companies that allow AI chatbots to surface news content (Disclosure: Vox Media, The Verge’s parent company, has a licensing deal with OpenAI.)Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Mia SatoCloseMia SatoFeatures Writer, The VergePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Mia SatoAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AICreatorsCloseCreatorsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All CreatorsLawCloseLawPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All LawPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularWhat a Sony and TCL partnership means for the future of TVsHow much can a city take?Sony’s TV business is being taken over by TCLVolvo aims for an EV reset with the new EX60 crossoverSony’s first clip-on open earbuds have a quiet mode so others can’t listen inThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in AIApple is reportedly working on an AirTag-sized AI wearableAnthropic’s new Claude ‘constitution’: be helpful and honest, and don’t destroy humanityApple is turning Siri into an AI bot that’s more like ChatGPTElevenLabs made an AI album to plug its music generatorInstagram’s top boss is missing the point about AI on the platformAdobe Acrobat uses AI to turn your PDFs into podcastsApple is reportedly working on an AirTag-sized AI wearableEmma RothJan 21Anthropic’s new Claude ‘constitution’: be helpful and honest, and don’t destroy humanityHayden FieldJan 21Apple is turning Siri into an AI bot that’s more like ChatGPTEmma RothJan 21ElevenLabs made an AI album to plug its music generatorJess WeatherbedJan 21Instagram’s top boss is missing the point about AI on the platformAllison JohnsonJan 21Adobe Acrobat uses AI to turn your PDFs into podcastsJess WeatherbedJan 21Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop StoriesJan 21Anthropic’s new Claude ‘constitution’: be helpful and honest, and don’t destroy humanityJan 21What a Sony and TCL partnership means for the future of TVsJan 21Instagram’s top boss is missing the point about AI on the platformJan 21Volvo aims for an EV reset with the new EX60 crossoverJan 21One year in, Big Tech has out-maneuvered MAGA populistsJan 19It’s worse than it looks in MinneapolisThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. 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Hundreds of creatives are voicing serious concerns regarding the future shaped by artificial intelligence, specifically labeling the current trajectory as “AI slop.” The core of the anxiety stems from what signatories describe as “theft at a grand scale,” where AI companies are allegedly utilizing vast amounts of copyrighted creative content—including literature, music, and acting performances—to train generative AI models without authorization or compensation to the original creators. This action, they argue, fosters an environment of misinformation, deepfakes, and a flood of low-quality content, posing a significant threat to the integrity of artistic endeavors and potentially leading to a collapse of AI models. The campaign, dubbed “Stealing Isn’t Innovation,” is spearheaded by the Human Artistry Campaign, a coalition including organizations like the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), professional sports players unions, and performers unions such as SAG-AFTRA. Its message is amplified through large-scale advertising campaigns. The initiative pushes for licensing agreements and a robust enforcement environment, alongside the right for artists to opt-out of having their work utilized in AI training. At a governmental level, there are ongoing efforts, spearheaded by former President Donald Trump and his allies, to manage state regulations on AI and penalize those attempting to control its development. Industry-level, a shift toward licensing deals is emerging, with major record labels now partnering with AI music startups. Digital publishers are exploring a standardized licensing process to block their content from appearing in AI search results. Some outlets have established individual deals with tech companies that allow AI chatbots to surface their news content – a disclosure is noted regarding Vox Media, The Verge’s parent company, having a current licensing agreement with OpenAI.