Stealing Isn't Innovation: 800 Artists Fight Back Against AI Theft in 2026

A powerhouse coalition of over 800 artists, including Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, and the band R.E.M., has officially declared war on generative AI giants. Their message is clear: using human creativity without permission isn't innovation—it's theft on a massive scale.

The Stealing Isn't Innovation Campaign and the Fight Against AI Slop

Backed by the Human Artistry Campaign, the movement targets companies that have scraped the internet to train models without compensating creators. According to reports from The Verge, the campaign highlights the rise of 'AI slop'—low-quality, AI-generated filler that's flooding social media feeds and diluting the information ecosystem.

Johansson's involvement is particularly noteworthy. She's already had a high-profile clash with OpenAI over the unauthorized use of her voice. Now, she's joined by others like rapper Common to demand transparency. The group argues that this 'illegal intellectual property grab' threatens America's AI superiority by prioritizing quantity over quality, risking a total collapse of AI models trained on their own subpar outputs.

Fair Use or Grand Theft? The Legal Tussle

While industry titans like Disney have secured massive deals—Disney inked a $1 billion deal with OpenAI—individual artists are left in the lurch. AI companies maintain their actions are protected by 'fair use' doctrines, but the creative community isn't buying it. They're pushing for mandatory licensing agreements and the right to opt out of AI training sets.

The legal pressure is mounting. In April 2025, Ziff Davis filed a major lawsuit against OpenAI for copyright infringement. This new campaign plans to amplify these concerns through a widespread ad blitz across social media and major news outlets to turn the tide of public opinion.