In response to a surge in AI usage, especially in the creative industries, many organisations are working to develop a universally-recognisable label for human-made products and services. The idea is that it would function similarly to existing certifications such as “Fair Trade” to recognise a product meets a certain standard of being human-built or made. The transparency of the development of certain products is said to build trust and clarification in brands and their services.
While the star symbol has started to become synonymous with AI creations, especially of the generative kind, what could be adopted to certify the opposite?
Where is the line drawn?
Some argue that it is impossible to certify whether something is completely AI-free. While a product may be made by a human, administrative tasks related to the creation and selling of the product may have undisclosed AI usage associated with them.
To gain certification, does the whole supply chain and timeline of a product or service’s creation need examining? Is it strictly generative AI that is being looked at? Will products and services be given a specific percentage or rating in order to gain certification?
Why is the transparency important?
Arguably, customers being aware of the origins of the items they are interacting with is important for value. Being aware that a human designed or made the product a customer is buying may increase the perceived value, especially to those who seek to actively support human artists and workers during a wave of AI creations taking over the market.
The days of AI assistants are no longer a future possibility – the world of technology has advanced significantly over recent years and many worry about a blurred line between AI and human work. The race to determine a universal certification for human-made products comes as a result of the fears of certain professions becoming AI-dominated. This might look like a recognisable label or certificate and/or a standardised assessment – but how will this affect smaller businesses who already feel the increasing costs of operating? Will these certifications be an extra fee to consider and will the added label of being human-made prove to be a cost-effective decision for establishing trust with a loyal customer base? This remains to be seen.
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