RouteNote reports on the introduction of a bipartisan bill, the "AI Foundational Model Transparency Act," by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and John Hickenlooper. The proposed legislation aims to protect artists and creators from the unauthorized use of their work to train generative AI models by requiring AI developers to disclose the copyrighted works used for training. It responds to concerns about "AI art theft" and would mandate detailed public summaries of training data and responses to specific requests from creators.

The bill emphasizes transparency as a mechanism for empowering copyright holders to enforce their rights and seek compensation when their work has been used without permission. By requiring AI companies to publish training data details and respond to requests from artists, the legislation seeks to balance innovation in AI with fair treatment of creators. It reflects a growing legislative effort to address the ethical and legal gray areas of AI and ensure that artists’ livelihoods are protected in the digital age.