In a plot twist worthy of a suspense novel, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon and a cohort of esteemed writers have sounded the alarm against Meta Platforms Inc. These writers argue that Meta clandestinely used their protected works to refine its Large Language Model, LLaMA, without batting an eyelid or asking permission.
The backdrop for this latest legal drama is set in the sunny state of California, where a proposed class action has been lodged against the tech giant.
Meta’s AI Targeted : Echoes from the Past
In a scenario that feels eerily like déjà vu, this isn’t the writers’ first dance with AI giants. Barely a week ago, Chabon and his literary allies made similar overtures against OpenAI Inc., alleging unauthorized use of their copyrighted works to hone ChatGPT, OpenAI’s counterpart to LLaMA.
The Writers Behind the Lawsuit
It’s a veritable who’s who of the literary world:
- Michael Chabon, celebrated for “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay”
- David Henry Hwang, the brains behind several screenplays
- Matthew Klam, a renowned fiction writer
- Journalist par excellence, Rachel Louise Snyder
- Ayelet Waldman, not just a notable novelist and essayist, but also Chabon’s life partner.
The Murky World of “Shadow Libraries”
Painting a picture darker than the night, the writers highlight the ominous world of online “shadow libraries”. These dens of duplicity host pirated books, papers, and other text troves. Tempting for AI developers due to their treasure trove of copyrighted content, these libraries operate on the fringes of legality.
