Odin's Beard! Are the Gods of Tech Stealing Our Songs?

The Sound of Plunder?

Hark brothers and sisters! It seems even in this strange new world of 'artificial intelligence,' the old ways persist. I hear whispers on the wind carried from the misty lands of England of a great battle brewing. Not with swords and shields but with words and laws... about songs! Apparently these 'musicians,' like Elton John (a strange name indeed – sounds like a goat herder!) and Dua Lipa (perhaps a shield maiden in disguise?) are crying foul. They say the U.K. government is considering letting these 'AI developers' – sorcerers of the machine – steal their songs! Steal their very essence to feed these metal beasts. 'Fear is power,' they say. Well I fear a world where even a good drinking song is not safe from thievery.

The Opt Out Outrage

These 'tech giants,' as they are called propose a new rule: that artists must actively stop their work from being plundered by these AI models. Imagine! Telling a Viking he must ask the enemy NOT to raid his village! It is madness! As Floki would say 'The gods are laughing!' These 'LLMs' – large language models – sound like monstrous serpents from the depths of the sea devouring data and spitting out... what? Imitations? Soulless copies? 'I choose to fight,' these musicians declare. And so they should! 'There is always a choice.'

Beeban's Stand

A woman named Beeban Kidron a lawmaker of some standing is championing their cause. She demands these AI sorcerers reveal what songs they have plundered and allow for fair trades. A 'licensing regime,' she calls it. Sounds like a complicated bargain to me but at least it acknowledges the songs have value. 'Life is a struggle,' so they say. And in this struggle transparency is the shield.

Our Work is Not Yours to Give Away

Indeed! These are brave words. These musicians these singers of tales they are the skalds of this modern age. Their songs stir the heart inspire courage and yes sometimes even make us dance like drunken fools after a raid. Their work is not for these tech sorcerers to simply take. As I once told King Ecbert 'Power is always dangerous. It attracts the worst. It corrupts even the best.' This technology must be regulated or it will be death for our music

The Government's Grumbling

The government of course mumbles and equivocates. They say they want both the creative industries and the AI firms to 'flourish.' Flourish? Like weeds choking a garden? They promise reports and assessments but words are wind. Action is what matters! It seems to me they are trying to appease everyone and pleasing no one just as they did back home. As always! I feel like screaming into the nothing

A Viking's Verdict

So what is to be done? I say stand your ground! Fight for what is yours! These songs these stories they are the soul of a people. Do not let them be stolen by cold machines and greedy men. Remember 'We must become what we wish to destroy.' Perhaps these musicians must learn to wield the power of AI themselves to protect their creations. Or failing that hire a few Vikings to... 'negotiate' on their behalf. That always works! 'Ivar get the boats ready.'