The European Commission is seeking input from stakeholders to create an AI strategy focused on the cultural and creative sectors. European Commissioner Glenn Micaleff emphasizes the importance of this strategy, especially given that cultural goods worth €31.5 billion were exported from the EU in 2024. The high-end cultural and creative sectors represent over 70% of the global market according to the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance.
This initiative aims to enhance AI development by leveraging high-quality sector data, with a new Common European data space for cultural heritage set to provide over 30 million digital cultural objects for AI training by 2030. The call for evidence reflects strong public engagement, with many contributions highlighting the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Micaleff has identified three main legal and economic challenges: licensing copyrighted works for AI use, unauthorized use of artists’ imagery and voice, and the issue of AI-generated content. He also expressed concerns about how AI technologies could affect cultural diversity and the discoverability of European content due to algorithmic biases.
Although no immediate legislation is expected, a strategy may develop by 2027, focusing on innovation, fair business models, and capacity building in the digital domain. The guiding principles include ensuring long-term sustainability, prioritizing human-centric approaches, and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity. This discussion has the potential to significantly influence the broader AI debate regarding its impact on cultural and creative heritage.
