Initiative to integrate AI and Blockchain technology into anime production causes mixed responses in Japan 

On January 10^th, Japan’s AI and blockchain experts launched the AnimeChain preparatory committee, an initiative intended to redefine the anime production landscape. This committee aims to address the industry’s critical issues, such as copyright infringement and labor shortages, by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology. 

What is the AnimeChain initiative? 

The ‘AnimeChain’ (アニメチェーン構想) preparatory committee was established by a consortium of domestic AI and blockchain experts. The initiative emerged in response to the escalating labor crisis in Japan’s anime industry and the ethical quandaries posed by generative AI (MyNavi News).

The committee’s primary aim is the ‘AnimeChain Initiative,’ designed to expand the content ecosystem and empower creators in the AI era. This initiative intends to enable creators to leverage generative AI tools, reconstructed using only ‘opt-in materials’ i.e. AI tools not trained on material taken without permission. This approach is intended to ensure respect for creators’ rights and addresses the base model’s learning processes. 

A critical aspect of the AnimeChain Initiative is using blockchain technology to record the development process of generative AI. This step is reportedly meant to ensure transparency and legitimacy, addressing copyright and ethical concerns. Furthermore, revenue generated from the AI-created content will be equitably distributed among creators and rights holders based on blockchain-recorded creation history.

The ‘AnimeChain Initiative’ is intended to enhance the content ecosystem and support creators in maximizing profits in the AI era. It focuses on three key areas: establishing a safe and secure environment for creators, addressing the ‘labor shortage’ in the content industry, and maximizing creator revenue. 

Establishing a Safe and Secure Environment for Creators 

To safeguard creators’ rights, the committee reportedly plans to use only ‘opt-in materials’ authorized by rights holders for generative AI and related tools, covering all learning aspects with the base model. Furthermore, the development process of the generative AI will be transparently recorded on the blockchain, ensuring its legitimacy and addressing copyright and ethical concerns associated with generative AI.

Addressing the ‘Labor Shortage’ in the Content Industry 

The Japanese content industry, particularly anime, is experiencing a serious labor shortage despite increasing global demand. Therefore, the aim of implementing generative AI with a verifiable lineage through blockchain technology is to swiftly establish an environment that can assist in producing high-quality content with limited personnel. This approach seeks to prevent stagnation in the industry due to labor shortages, aiming for sustainable growth. 

Maximizing Creator Revenue

Revenue generated from content created by generative AI will be allocated to both the creators and the rights holders who supplied the training data, as recorded on the blockchain. By contributing to the production process of original drawings and images for training data, it is intended that creators can maximize their revenue and concentrate more on their creative endeavors. 

What do people think of this? 

The AnimeChain Initiative has garnered a mixed response on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Some users express excitement and optimism: 

However, some concerns and skepticism have also surfaced.

Despite these mixed reviews, the general sentiment among Japanese users indicates a cautious optimism about the potential of the AnimeChain Initiative’s ability to help the anime industry.