Epilogue
Solutions
There are several solutions Robet could propose to the company to address their concerns while also considering the limitations. Robert could recommend reviewing the training dataset and its documentation to identify images without clear licensing information. Research by Dubiński et al. (2025) also demonstrates how technical methods can investigate whether particular artwork was used to train diffusion models, although this does not automatically establish copyright infringement.
Robert could also recommend whether the model reproduces existing artwork, as he found before. Carlini et al. (2023) shows that these generative AI models can often memorize certain facts, which can lead to them reproducing training images during chatting. This leads to a major technical concern of private information, as well as copyrighted artwork, being recreated by these models.
Finally, Robert and Emily could look into licensing the artwork that is being used to train the model. Emily and Robet could find properly licensed alternatives, using them instead of questionable training data. They could also propose a more transparent process for documenting training-data in future development.
A good way to get through this is by setting up a group setting with all 4 members of the team such as an emergency meeting. By meeting with all 4 members of the team, Robert can explain his case and work with Emily and the team to make sure that the project isn’t in any legal trouble. After that, there should be a few outcomes that the team could come to depending on how management listens to Robert’s proposal.
Outcomes
| Outcome | Pro | Con |
|---|---|---|
| Persuades management | If Robert persuades management, GeoAI could investigate the dataset, address identified problems, while delaying the release until the solution is resolved. This would future reduce ethical, legal, and reputational risks. | However, this could lead to increased costs in the short term, while also putting the company at risk from other companies. |
| Escalation | If management refuses to act, Robert could document his finding and the responses from management and escalate the issue through the company’s internal reporting procedures. | However, this could lead to conflict between his co-workers, or a threat to his position in the company. |
| Changing Projects | Robert could also decide to leave the company, due to it not aligning with his Ethical belifs | Robert could lose his job or lose recommendations for getting future jobs, putting his own future at risk. |
| Reporting the issue | But, if internal efforts fail, Robert might consider reporting the issue to appropriate authorities. | This could bring professional and legal risks. Robert would need to understand the laws and contracts in place before doing so. |
In result, Robert should address these ethical concerns, while also presenting a practical solution that considers both artists' rights and GeoAI's interests.