Essential Reading ->
"One could argue that by repurposing creative works, AI has expanded the art multiplier: each dollar spent on the arts now yields its usual social return, as well as additional value derived from its incorporation into AI systems.
Yet, despite the value of their contributions, public funding for artists and creators has steadily declined. In the United Kingdom, for example, direct support from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to national arts bodies fell by 18% per person in real terms between 2009-10 and 2022-23. Over the same period, core funding for arts councils dropped by 18% in England, 22% in Scotland, 25% in Wales, and 66% in Northern Ireland. As generative AI continues to churn out synthetic content and displace human labor, that support must increase to reflect the realities of a changing creative economy.
Admittedly, with public finances under pressure and debt on the rise, this is hardly the time for unchecked government spending. Any additional funding would need to be financed responsibly. While a detailed policy blueprint is beyond the scope of this article, it’s worth noting that the enormous profits generated by major tech firms could be partially redirected to support the creative communities that power their models.
One way to achieve this would be to impose a levy on the gross revenues of the largest AI providers, collected by a national or multilateral agency. As the technology becomes increasingly embedded in daily life and production processes, the revenue flowing to AI firms is bound to grow – and so, too, will contributions to the fund. These resources could then be distributed by independent grant councils on multiyear cycles, ensuring that support reaches a wide range of disciplines and regions."
https://www.project-syndicate.org/onpoint/how-ai-profits-can-help-fund-cultural-production-by-mariana-mazzucato-and-fausto-gernone-2025-07
New blog post: "From Empire to Livelihood"
