Artists Urge Christie’s to Cancel First AI Art Auction Over Copyright Concerns

A petition signed by over 3,000 artists claims the auction legitimizes AI models trained on unlicensed copyrighted works, sparking ethical debates.

Christie’s is set to host its first-ever AI-dedicated art auction, 'Augmented Intelligence,' from February 20 to March 5 in New York, featuring over 20 lots of AI-enhanced artworks.
A petition signed by more than 3,000 artists accuses the auction of promoting unethical AI practices that exploit copyrighted works without consent or compensation.
Prominent artists like Karla Ortiz and Kelly McKernan, who are suing AI companies over copyright violations, are among the petition's signatories.
Christie’s defends the auction, stating that most featured works use datasets and models developed by the artists themselves, emphasizing AI as a collaborative tool in creativity.
The debate highlights broader tensions around AI's role in art, with critics focusing on corporate and regulatory accountability rather than individual artists using the technology.