The technology industry is shifting towards building AI which can generate logical text, fascinating images and functional computer code. However, such emergence has brought with it a lawsuit. GitHub Copilot, a formidable form of AI automatically generates working code when a programmer starts typing. The coder behind the filing of the lawsuit argues GitHub is infringing copyright because it does not provide acknowledgement when Copilot reproduces open-source code covered by a license requiring it.
The lawsuit is still at an early stage and its outcome is ambiguous because AI is still novel and has not faced much legal examination. Though legal experts say the outcome will have some direction on future generative AI technology. One of the lawyers who brought lawsuit against GitHub expressed that AI is “sucking up the work of these creators”.
Copilot is a powerful example of the commercial and creative potential of generative AI technology. The tool was created by GitHub, which is a division of Microsoft that hosts the code for hundreds of millions of software projects. A recent study by GitHub suggests that coders can complete some tasks in less than half the time normally required when using Copilot as an aid. This demonstrates the vast benefit that AI will have on society in the near future.
The CEO of GitHub has explained that Copilot comes with a feature designed to prevent copying from existing code. But whether this provides enough legal protection remains in the discretion of the Court. Either way, this is going to be a landmark case for implications on future generative AI.
As AI is not as widespread in society yet once people realise AI can do such wonderful things for their business, they will think deeply about implementing AI in assisting them in the business affairs. Ultimately, as more people begin to contemplate and experiment with generative AI, there will definitely be more lawsuits to compliment this.
By Zohaib Tahir, an LLM student at Solent University
