From the Working Party on Artificial Intelligence
The Working Party on Artificial Intelligence (WPAI) was convened in 2024 and spent the second half of 2024 on the following main activities:
- developing the terms of reference and getting them approved
- surveying members on their views of artificial intelligence (AI) and writing up that report
- preparing our first report to members
- preparing the first a resource in our Editors’ AI Toolkit for members: a document for editors to give clients explaining why they still need editors in the age of AI tools
- exploring advocacy opportunities and recommending actions.
Dedicated WPAI pages are coming soon to the Member Portal. We will use this space and Gatherings to report regularly to IPEd members. Here you’ll be able to find our first report, with updates on news in editing-related AI, what we’re adding to the Toolkit and more about how we’re advocating for IPEd members.
IPEd advocating for editors
The IPEd Board will be supporting two high-profile campaigns advocating for government regulation of emerging generative AI technology. On behalf of Australian and New Zealand members, the Board will sign the Statement on AI Training, which was launched globally in October. The Board will also send letters to selected Members of Parliament in Australia as part of MEAA’s Stop AI Theft campaign, which calls for legislation to protect local artists, writers and creatives from IP infringement through unauthorised use of their work in AI training and outputs. The Board encourages interested members to take action as individuals by also signing the statement and sending a letter to your local Member of Parliament.
Survey
In July 2024, the WPAI surveyed IPEd members to find out their feelings about, and experience with, AI and what they would like from IPEd. The survey results informed the working party’s terms of reference and is being used to prioritise WPAI tasks.
The survey showed that editors’ opinions about and experiences of AI are varied. We therefore are recommending a number of actions in the working group to reflect a broad range of member interests and concerns. The survey covered how respondents feel about AI, what they would like the WPAI to deliver and what their experience is with AI-generated content. The full survey report will be available in the Member Portal in February.