Generative AI presents a double challenge to culture, science, education, journalism, and creative work: it opens up new possibilities but also creates disruptive effects. How these can be mitigated or compensated for is a central societal question. Various approaches are being discussed, which I will present and evaluate: - Moving away from the open access paradigm by closing data repositories; - Explaining widespread copyright opt-outs; - Tightening or expanding copyright laws; - Copyright remuneration models. My conclusion is: All these approaches have significant disadvantages, are too short-sighted, or prove to be counterproductive, as collateral damage to openness, participation, and access to knowledge threatens. My thesis: Instead of damaging the open information ecosystem, we should involve AI companies in the costs of disruption—and renegotiate the value of human creativity.
Generative AI poses a double challenge to culture, science, education, journalism, and creative work: it opens up new possibilities but also creates disruptive effects. How these can be mitigated or compensated for is a central societal question. Various approaches are being discussed, which I will present and evaluate:
Abandonment of the open access paradigm through the closure of data collections;
Explanation of widespread copyright opt-outs;
Tightening or expansion of copyright;
Copyright remuneration approaches.
My conclusion is: All these approaches have serious disadvantages, are too short-sighted, or prove to be counterproductive, as collateral damage to openness, participation, and access to knowledge threatens. My thesis: Instead of damaging the open information ecosystem, we should involve AI companies in the costs of disruption – and renegotiate what value human creativity holds.
The first re:publica Vienna brought the most important European festival for digital society, politics, technology, and culture to Austria for the first time. From October 2 to 3, 2026, the Kulturhaus Brotfabrik became a venue for debates and keynotes with international speakers. OKTO recorded the event and has been presenting the highlights since October 5 in the slots at 6:00 PM and 11:10 PM.
