Ed Newton-Rex
@ednewtonrex.bsky.social
CEO of Fairly Trained / Composer. Working towards fairer training data practices in generative AI.
It has been pointed out to me that this means 2.5 billion-dollar AI music company Suno has spent less money on music than many individual music fans
Billboard got access to Suno’s investment pitch deck.
It revealed that Suno has spent $32 million on compute, and $2,000 on training data.
Let that sink in.
www.billboard.com/pro/suno-cre...
It revealed that Suno has spent $32 million on compute, and $2,000 on training data.
Let that sink in.
www.billboard.com/pro/suno-cre...
November 25, 2025 at 10:28 AM
It has been pointed out to me that this means 2.5 billion-dollar AI music company Suno has spent less money on music than many individual music fans
Billboard got access to Suno’s investment pitch deck.
It revealed that Suno has spent $32 million on compute, and $2,000 on training data.
Let that sink in.
www.billboard.com/pro/suno-cre...
It revealed that Suno has spent $32 million on compute, and $2,000 on training data.
Let that sink in.
www.billboard.com/pro/suno-cre...
November 24, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Billboard got access to Suno’s investment pitch deck.
It revealed that Suno has spent $32 million on compute, and $2,000 on training data.
Let that sink in.
www.billboard.com/pro/suno-cre...
It revealed that Suno has spent $32 million on compute, and $2,000 on training data.
Let that sink in.
www.billboard.com/pro/suno-cre...
It’s funny to observe a concerted effort among AI types to rebrand slop as a term that also applies to human-made work.
This attempted rebrand is 100% because it’s so extraordinarily effective as a word to describe and dismiss all AI output.
🧵 1/4
This attempted rebrand is 100% because it’s so extraordinarily effective as a word to describe and dismiss all AI output.
🧵 1/4
November 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM
It’s funny to observe a concerted effort among AI types to rebrand slop as a term that also applies to human-made work.
This attempted rebrand is 100% because it’s so extraordinarily effective as a word to describe and dismiss all AI output.
🧵 1/4
This attempted rebrand is 100% because it’s so extraordinarily effective as a word to describe and dismiss all AI output.
🧵 1/4
AI types like to argue that image models - like Google’s new one yesterday - will make illustrators more efficient, or will actually create *more* work for the best artists.
But what they will really do is put artists out of work, and do so unfairly.
🧵 1/n
But what they will really do is put artists out of work, and do so unfairly.
🧵 1/n
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
AI types like to argue that image models - like Google’s new one yesterday - will make illustrators more efficient, or will actually create *more* work for the best artists.
But what they will really do is put artists out of work, and do so unfairly.
🧵 1/n
But what they will really do is put artists out of work, and do so unfairly.
🧵 1/n
People in AI often justify the exploitation of creatives' work for AI training with versions of: 'If people can learn from your work, why can't AI?'
But this totally ignores the social contract under which people create and share their work.
🧵 1/14
But this totally ignores the social contract under which people create and share their work.
🧵 1/14
November 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
People in AI often justify the exploitation of creatives' work for AI training with versions of: 'If people can learn from your work, why can't AI?'
But this totally ignores the social contract under which people create and share their work.
🧵 1/14
But this totally ignores the social contract under which people create and share their work.
🧵 1/14
Reposted by Ed Newton-Rex
This is one of the worst, most horrifying exposures we have ever seen. It is hard to overstate how bad the things that people are using tools like for are, and it's insane to pretend like these tools are anything other than nonconsensual porn machines
www.404media.co/ai-porn-secr...
www.404media.co/ai-porn-secr...
Massive Leak Shows Erotic Chatbot Users Turned Women’s Yearbook Pictures Into AI Porn
Chatbot roleplay and image generator platform SecretDesires.ai left cloud storage containers of nearly two million of images and videos exposed, including photos and full names of women from social me...
www.404media.co
November 19, 2025 at 5:11 PM
This is one of the worst, most horrifying exposures we have ever seen. It is hard to overstate how bad the things that people are using tools like for are, and it's insane to pretend like these tools are anything other than nonconsensual porn machines
www.404media.co/ai-porn-secr...
www.404media.co/ai-porn-secr...
It is indescribably sad that, if you exploit “essentially all music files of reasonable quality that are accessible on the open Internet” without paying the musicians behind them - and create a model that can compete with those musicians - this is how you are rewarded
November 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM
It is indescribably sad that, if you exploit “essentially all music files of reasonable quality that are accessible on the open Internet” without paying the musicians behind them - and create a model that can compete with those musicians - this is how you are rewarded
Today we’re releasing the vinyl of Is This What We Want?, the silent album from 1000+ musicians protesting the UK government’s plans on AI & copyright.
New (silent) bonus track by Paul McCartney.
🧵 1/4
New (silent) bonus track by Paul McCartney.
🧵 1/4
November 17, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Today we’re releasing the vinyl of Is This What We Want?, the silent album from 1000+ musicians protesting the UK government’s plans on AI & copyright.
New (silent) bonus track by Paul McCartney.
🧵 1/4
New (silent) bonus track by Paul McCartney.
🧵 1/4
Insane new stats on AI music:
- 50,000 AI songs are uploaded every day
- 34% of songs uploaded are AI-generated
Massive respect to Deezer for being open about this - and being the only streaming platform to try to fight it.
This can't become the new normal.
- 50,000 AI songs are uploaded every day
- 34% of songs uploaded are AI-generated
Massive respect to Deezer for being open about this - and being the only streaming platform to try to fight it.
This can't become the new normal.
November 13, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Insane new stats on AI music:
- 50,000 AI songs are uploaded every day
- 34% of songs uploaded are AI-generated
Massive respect to Deezer for being open about this - and being the only streaming platform to try to fight it.
This can't become the new normal.
- 50,000 AI songs are uploaded every day
- 34% of songs uploaded are AI-generated
Massive respect to Deezer for being open about this - and being the only streaming platform to try to fight it.
This can't become the new normal.
Big win for creatives today in the battle against exploitation by AI companies ⬇️
German court rules OpenAI infringed copyright when it trained on copyrighted song lyrics
www.reuters.com/world/german...
German court rules OpenAI infringed copyright when it trained on copyrighted song lyrics
www.reuters.com/world/german...
November 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Big win for creatives today in the battle against exploitation by AI companies ⬇️
German court rules OpenAI infringed copyright when it trained on copyrighted song lyrics
www.reuters.com/world/german...
German court rules OpenAI infringed copyright when it trained on copyrighted song lyrics
www.reuters.com/world/german...
Reposted by Ed Newton-Rex
Continually baffled that I was subject to far stricter ethics rules around investments as a junior lawyer than government members / advisors are. Avoiding the actuality (and appearance) of conflicts of interest is good, actually
There’s a good chance the British Prime Minister’s main adviser on AI is an OpenAI shareholder - but the government refuses to say whether she is.
🧵 1/5
🧵 1/5
November 11, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Continually baffled that I was subject to far stricter ethics rules around investments as a junior lawyer than government members / advisors are. Avoiding the actuality (and appearance) of conflicts of interest is good, actually
Reposted by Ed Newton-Rex
This... just seems mad. The whole point of a register of interests is to allow it to be judged whether there are conflicts. If the information is hidden, the register has no value.
I put in a freedom of information request for her register of interests, which would reveal if she owns OpenAI shares. The government refused to share it, claiming it contains ‘personal information’.
For context, the PM’s previous AI Adviser’s register of interests *was* published.
3/5
For context, the PM’s previous AI Adviser’s register of interests *was* published.
3/5
November 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
This... just seems mad. The whole point of a register of interests is to allow it to be judged whether there are conflicts. If the information is hidden, the register has no value.
There’s a good chance the British Prime Minister’s main adviser on AI is an OpenAI shareholder - but the government refuses to say whether she is.
🧵 1/5
🧵 1/5
November 11, 2025 at 9:25 AM
There’s a good chance the British Prime Minister’s main adviser on AI is an OpenAI shareholder - but the government refuses to say whether she is.
🧵 1/5
🧵 1/5
The Coca-Cola Christmas ad, made with AI, used at least eight AI models known to be trained on copyrighted work without permission.
This is a huge middle finger to the artists whose work these models exploit, at scale, for huge commercial gain.
This is a huge middle finger to the artists whose work these models exploit, at scale, for huge commercial gain.
November 5, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The Coca-Cola Christmas ad, made with AI, used at least eight AI models known to be trained on copyrighted work without permission.
This is a huge middle finger to the artists whose work these models exploit, at scale, for huge commercial gain.
This is a huge middle finger to the artists whose work these models exploit, at scale, for huge commercial gain.
New AI copyright lawsuit just landed - Danish music rights org Koda sues Suno for what it calls “the biggest theft in music history”.
Danish rights holders, it seems - like many others around the world - have had enough.
x.com/ednewtonrex/...
Danish rights holders, it seems - like many others around the world - have had enough.
x.com/ednewtonrex/...
November 4, 2025 at 9:32 AM
New AI copyright lawsuit just landed - Danish music rights org Koda sues Suno for what it calls “the biggest theft in music history”.
Danish rights holders, it seems - like many others around the world - have had enough.
x.com/ednewtonrex/...
Danish rights holders, it seems - like many others around the world - have had enough.
x.com/ednewtonrex/...
Universal Music have settled their lawsuit with Udio.
From the little that is known about the settlement, this looks like a big win for creatives:
🧵 1/5
From the little that is known about the settlement, this looks like a big win for creatives:
🧵 1/5
October 30, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Universal Music have settled their lawsuit with Udio.
From the little that is known about the settlement, this looks like a big win for creatives:
🧵 1/5
From the little that is known about the settlement, this looks like a big win for creatives:
🧵 1/5
A big tech lobbying group has asked Trump to issue an Executive Order telling the DOJ to intervene in AI copyright lawsuits in favor of AI companies.
Astonishingly brazen request.
Though IMO suggests AI companies are v worried they will lose in court.
progresschamber.org/resources/wh...
Astonishingly brazen request.
Though IMO suggests AI companies are v worried they will lose in court.
progresschamber.org/resources/wh...
October 28, 2025 at 5:45 PM
A big tech lobbying group has asked Trump to issue an Executive Order telling the DOJ to intervene in AI copyright lawsuits in favor of AI companies.
Astonishingly brazen request.
Though IMO suggests AI companies are v worried they will lose in court.
progresschamber.org/resources/wh...
Astonishingly brazen request.
Though IMO suggests AI companies are v worried they will lose in court.
progresschamber.org/resources/wh...
Reposted by Ed Newton-Rex
That thing where you read a headline with hope and optimism that Starmer’s government has made a good policy decision only to learn that the headline is about the Australian Labour party instead.
In huge positive news, the Australian government just ruled out handing the work of their country’s creatives to AI companies for free 🙌
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
October 27, 2025 at 10:07 AM
That thing where you read a headline with hope and optimism that Starmer’s government has made a good policy decision only to learn that the headline is about the Australian Labour party instead.
Reposted by Ed Newton-Rex
If only this were @teamlabouruk.bsky.social …
In huge positive news, the Australian government just ruled out handing the work of their country’s creatives to AI companies for free 🙌
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
October 27, 2025 at 7:45 AM
If only this were @teamlabouruk.bsky.social …
Reposted by Ed Newton-Rex
Looking at you, UK government...
In huge positive news, the Australian government just ruled out handing the work of their country’s creatives to AI companies for free 🙌
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
October 27, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Looking at you, UK government...
In huge positive news, the Australian government just ruled out handing the work of their country’s creatives to AI companies for free 🙌
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
October 27, 2025 at 6:35 AM
In huge positive news, the Australian government just ruled out handing the work of their country’s creatives to AI companies for free 🙌
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
They resisted the well-funded tech lobby & shut down proposals to upend copyright law.
Other governments should do the same!
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Ed Newton-Rex
This Machines Like Us episode with @taylorowen.bsky.social and @ednewtonrex.bsky.social is excellent.
The public, once again, is correct and ahead of the Carney government: According to a new poll by Leger, 85% of Canadians want government regulation for “AI”, not its rapid acceleration.
The public, once again, is correct and ahead of the Carney government: According to a new poll by Leger, 85% of Canadians want government regulation for “AI”, not its rapid acceleration.
AI Music is Everywhere. Is it Legal?
Podcast Episode · Machines Like Us · 2025-10-21 · 1h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:58 PM
This Machines Like Us episode with @taylorowen.bsky.social and @ednewtonrex.bsky.social is excellent.
The public, once again, is correct and ahead of the Carney government: According to a new poll by Leger, 85% of Canadians want government regulation for “AI”, not its rapid acceleration.
The public, once again, is correct and ahead of the Carney government: According to a new poll by Leger, 85% of Canadians want government regulation for “AI”, not its rapid acceleration.
The UK government hasn't ruled out weakening copyright law in low-regulation zones to benefit AI companies.
They say they "intend" IP rights to be a red line for these zones. But they are "seeking views" on this.
Please make your views known!
www.gov.uk/government/c...
They say they "intend" IP rights to be a red line for these zones. But they are "seeking views" on this.
Please make your views known!
www.gov.uk/government/c...
October 21, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The UK government hasn't ruled out weakening copyright law in low-regulation zones to benefit AI companies.
They say they "intend" IP rights to be a red line for these zones. But they are "seeking views" on this.
Please make your views known!
www.gov.uk/government/c...
They say they "intend" IP rights to be a red line for these zones. But they are "seeking views" on this.
Please make your views known!
www.gov.uk/government/c...
New lawsuit against AI music company Suno just landed - brought by a group of independent musicians.
The same group of musicians who also sued Udio this week.
www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/...
The same group of musicians who also sued Udio this week.
www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/...
October 17, 2025 at 8:53 PM
New lawsuit against AI music company Suno just landed - brought by a group of independent musicians.
The same group of musicians who also sued Udio this week.
www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/...
The same group of musicians who also sued Udio this week.
www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/...
💥 Independent musicians just filed another copyright lawsuit against AI music company Udio.
It's notable that, while Udio says its mission is "to empower artists of all kinds to create extraordinary music", many of those artists are suing them.
chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/wp-content/u...
It's notable that, while Udio says its mission is "to empower artists of all kinds to create extraordinary music", many of those artists are suing them.
chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/wp-content/u...
October 17, 2025 at 8:02 PM
💥 Independent musicians just filed another copyright lawsuit against AI music company Udio.
It's notable that, while Udio says its mission is "to empower artists of all kinds to create extraordinary music", many of those artists are suing them.
chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/wp-content/u...
It's notable that, while Udio says its mission is "to empower artists of all kinds to create extraordinary music", many of those artists are suing them.
chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/wp-content/u...