Bots rise against Wallace and Gromit as creators warn over AI threat

Aardman Animations said it would struggle to survive if tech companies are allowed to freely use copyrighted material to train AI models unless creative industries ‘opt out’ of the process

Wallace and Gromit are under threat from artificial intelligence. The studio behind the hit characters is worried about new AI rules planned by the government.

Aardman Animations said it would struggle to survive if tech companies are allowed to freely use copyrighted material to train AI models unless creative industries “opt out” of the process.

Its managing director Sean Clarke warned: “If it was an opt-out system, I struggle to think how we would be able to do any more Wallace & Gromit because of the money we would have to spend on trying to police it.

“We’ve worked incredibly hard to create value in the intellectual property and it’s just being diminished.”

The Bristol-based animation firm, which also makes Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run, already spends about £300,000 a year on copyright protection.

Mr Clarke said: “It would go through the roof if we had to put a team into place to deal with every single platform that decides to use our copyright to opt out.”

The Westminster proposal would allow AI developers to scrape copyrighted material for training purposes unless creators take action to exclude their works.

It has been slammed by high-profile critics like Sir Elton John who said he felt “incredibly betrayed” by the government over plans to exempt technology firms from copyright laws.

Aardman fears the changes could devastate its business model, of which rights are critical for making and selling merchandise and brand development.

Mr Clarke added: “If you make it easier for people to type in, ‘Create me a Wallace & Gromit T-shirt’ you can just create it, print it, sell it.

“We’ve got to then chase down all of those people. It is really scary – I hope the government’s listening.”

A government spokesman said: “We are taking the time to consider the 11,500 responses to our consultation, but no changes to copyright law will be considered unless we’re completely satisfied they work for creators.”

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