AI Firms Buy and Destroy Millions of Books as China's Face Rental Market Booms
AI companies are purchasing, scanning and then destroying millions of paper books to train models. Meanwhile, a booming market for renting faces in China pays individuals as little as $15 for the rights to use their likeness in AI-generated series and ads.
AI firms are acquiring vast quantities of paper books only to scan the contents and discard the physical copies. This practice fuels the training datasets behind large language models while raising questions about the lifecycle of copyrighted material.
In China, a parallel market has emerged around personal likenesses. Platforms are paying individuals as little as $15 for the right to digitize and reuse their facial features in AI-produced television series, advertisements, and other media. The arrangements often involve transferring rights indefinitely.
Despite the narrative that artificial intelligence will soon render human involvement obsolete, these examples highlight that neural networks remain heavily dependent on human labor and resources — from copyrighted books to rented faces. The consequences for those who have signed over their appearance rights are still unfolding.
Source: ForkLog