Cypriots concerned about AI's impact on artists' employment and earnings

The majority of Cypriots, as well as Europeans in general, have expressed concern about how artificial intelligence is affecting the cultural sector and the livelihoods of artists, according to a new Eurobarometer survey.

More specifically, 80% of participants in Cyprus (73% in the EU) expressed concern that the development of generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) may have an impact on the employment or earnings of artists.

At the same time, only 50% of respondents in Cyprus (48% in the EU) said they can distinguish the difference between a work of art created with artificial intelligence tools and a work created by a human.

Fair remuneration of artists remains a serious issue, with only 23% of Cypriots (51% in the EU) believing that artists in their country generally receive fair and appropriate remuneration for their work.

The survey, which was carried out from 18 February to 12 March in Cyprus with a sample of 500 people (between 18 February and 16 March with a sample of 26,319 in the EU), is part of the preparation of the Cultural Compass for Europe, the Commission's strategy for EU policies in the field of culture, which will be presented in 2025.

For Cypriots, the EU's main priorities in the field of culture in cooperation with Member States should be to protect cultural heritage in the face of armed conflict, natural disasters or climate change (57%), ensure fair pay and good working conditions for artists and cultural workers (56%), support artists and cultural workers to acquire new skills (52%), make art more accessible to all (49%) and increase funding for arts, culture and the creative sector (48%).

As main priorities for the EU and cooperation with Member States in culture, Europeans prioritise efforts to make art more accessible to all (45% in the EU), protecting cultural heritage in the face of armed conflict, natural disasters or climate change (43%), ensuring fair pay and good working conditions for artists and cultural workers (42%), protecting the freedom and rights of artists (40%) and supporting artists and cultural workers to acquire new skills (33%).

According to the announcement, 91% of respondents in Cyprus and 87% in the EU agreed that culture and cultural exchanges should have a very important place in the EU.

94% of Cypriots and 88% of Europeans said that artistic freedom is important to them, while 63% in Cyprus (77% in the EU) said they believe that artists can freely express their ideas and opinions without censorship by the Government. 

59% in Cyprus and 83% in the EU responded that they believe that artists can express themselves without fear of censorship or reprisals from groups outside the Government.

However, only 36% in Cyprus (49% in the EU) stated that they had participated in artistic activities in the previous 12 months, either alone or as part of a group (a percentage that represents an increase of 12 percentage points compared to 2013 for the EU and an increase of 3 points for Cyprus).

When asked what factors prevent them from participating in or attending cultural activities, the first answer by far in Cyprus was lack of time (61% in Cyprus, 45% in the EU), and second was lack of information about events (28% in Cyprus, 22% in the EU). The cost of tickets was cited by 27% in Cyprus (38% in the EU).

"These results show how important culture is for Europeans, not only because it is part of their identity, but also because it is a common foundation for the future of Europe," said Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture and Sport.

(Source: InBusinessNews)