Patreon CEO Jack Conte is calling on major artificial intelligence companies to establish a compensation framework for independent creators whose work is used to train AI models. In a series of recent statements and a detailed video posted on the Patreon platform, Conte argued that while tech giants like OpenAI and Meta secure content licensing deals with traditional media conglomerates, no equivalent infrastructure exists for the thousands of individual artists, writers, and musicians driving the creator economy. Conte emphasized that the current lack of regulation and leverage leaves creators vulnerable. He expressed strong support for legal measures that would protect rights holders who cannot negotiate from a position of strength against large technology firms. While the legal landscape regarding AI and copyright remains fluid, recent court decisions highlight the tension. For instance, a 2025 federal ruling in California addressed Anthropic's use of copyrighted books, suggesting that while lawful training data might qualify as fair use, the copying of pirated materials does not. This case resulted in a $1.5 billion settlement to the affected authors, signaling that legal accountability is emerging. Despite his concerns, Conte clarified that he is not anti-AI. He believes the technology has the potential to enhance human creativity, similar to how synthesizers or cinematic tools transformed their respective industries. However, he warned against deploying AI in ways that undermine the livelihoods of the world's creative professionals. Conte acknowledged that Patreon is already utilizing AI tools internally but stressed that technological advancement should not come at the cost of a financial crisis for artists. The core challenge, according to Conte, is defining a new economic model that incentivizes novelty and rewards creators when their work fuels AI development. He does not yet have a fixed blueprint but pointed to YouTube's Content ID system as a potential precedent. This existing system allows rights holders to either block their content from being used in certain contexts or monetize and receive credit when their work appears in videos. Conte suggested a similar mechanism could allow creators to opt out of AI training datasets or receive payment when their work is replicated by AI models. Recent industry trends indicate that AI companies are beginning to court creators directly. Reports from late last year revealed that several startups were paying artists to license unpublished content. Furthermore, OpenAI recently recruited Meta's former head of partnerships, a move seen as an effort to replicate the strategies used to secure celebrity and creator relationships on social media platforms. Conte anticipates that a standardized model for compensating artists will eventually emerge as the industry matures. He concluded by asserting that while the specific mechanics remain to be built, the necessity of solving this problem is clear, noting that humanity has successfully tackled far more complex challenges in the past.