The AI Revolution and the Ethics of Royalties: A Call to Action

Wollertz Photography – The Video That Sparked This Discussion

AI, Shutterstock, and the Future of Digital Work: A Supplier’s Perspective

Only last month, I began working with the Wix platform. While searching for photos to complement my content, I discovered a pretty neat built-in feature: users can select images or videos from Shutterstock and pay a small fee for downloads directly through Wix’s interface.

As a Nigerian and African American entrepreneur focused on abundance via. diversity, I naturally appreciate business models that showcase the profitability of diversity rather than the opposite—and Wix’s transparent integration with Shutterstock exemplifies this.

By allowing small business proprietors to offer their content on a pay-per-download basis, Wix and Shutterstock and those small business proprietors have demonstrated how companies can collaborate profitably while empowering independent creators.

This beautiful synergy benefits everyone involved: Wix provides a seamless marketplace, Shutterstock connects consumers with the most important component: the Small Business Proprietor supplying the content and by hosting them together, a vast media library forms huge potential for abundant profitability, and entrepreneurs like myself gain access to a broader audience—all with efficiency and inspiration at the forefront.

I have to say, well done on behalf of all three components and very well done on Wix decision to make the collaboration transparent to me the consumer. They enhanced my ability to get things done and inspired me; which boast well for their reputation with me.

Now, I’ll admit—I’m usually behind the curve when it comes to adopting new technology. I naturally resist it (I know, Issa Virgoan mess, but we can save that conversation for another article).

So, discovering Shutterstock as business tool for myself only recently wasn’t surprising. However, joining Shutterstock makes perfect sense for the project I’m working on today. While searching for two specific niches, I realized there was room for better supply, so I decided: why not become a supplier myself?

Of course, being a true Virgo, I did my research before taking the plunge. Regardless of where this journey leads me—and I’ll be reporting back on how profitable this move turns out, if at all—I wanted to be well-informed.

In doing so, I came across a thought-provoking YouTube video by Wollertz Photography, which raised an essential question that both suppliers and consumers should be asking themselves—not just about Shutterstock, but in every instance where Artificial Intelligence threatens to become the dominant operative tool and workforce. This article is my response to that question.

Stock Photography provided by @RonLach

The digital economy is shifting at an unprecedented rate, and for many, AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a present reality. As traditional jobs evolve or disappear, people are forced to find new streams of income, and the digital space is becoming the primary battleground for economic survival.

In this landscape, AI is not just a tool; it is an essential tool for the new essential worker. The ability to create high-quality products at scale will define success in the digital economy, and AI will be the bridge between human creativity and mass production.

However, the real discussion should not be about whether AI is inevitable—that battle has already been won. The real conversation must focus on ethics, morality, and fairness in compensation.

The Shutterstock Dilemma: AI and Royalties

Platforms like Shutterstock exemplify the issue at hand. If Shutterstock is training its AI on images provided by human creators, then its AI is not generating original content—it is remixing and regurgitating human work. This raises a critical point: if AI increases productivity and revenue for the company, why should the royalty rate for contributors decline?

Quite the opposite—the royalty rate should increase. A fair demand would be a minimum of 60% in royalties to ensure that the creators, whose work fuels this AI boom, are properly compensated.

The Illusion of Resistance: A Losing Battle

There are two paths forward:

1.      Take the fight to the public sphere—demand higher royalties, organize creators, and force platforms to recognize the human labor behind AI’s success.

2.      Cry about the technological takeover—a losing battle, because without understanding the infrastructure of AI’s dominance, resistance is futile.

Capitalism functions on demand and supply. You do not and you cannot own either, you until you support those who possess both you will be owned—across industries, across technologies, and across the entire global market.

There is too much happening at present to invite you into a supportive position—I promise that if I get time, I will produce a book that reveals that power to others and I will be sure to credit those who inspired it because they have offered meaningful contribution to the conversation i.e. whose video inspired this article is very meaningful.

As to the issue of AI taking over Shutterstock,  the choice is clear: either dictate the terms of AI’s integration into your industry, or be dictated to.

The Path to Victory

The time for debate is over. The real fight is for control over how AI profits are distributed. Instead of lamenting inevitable change, its wise to focus on the negotiation of power—who owns what, who gets paid, and who controls the public and private narrative. It seems that the right thing would be for the corporation to control public narrative so long as compensation privately and publicly becomes and remains ethical.

The answer to these questions exists, but they will not be given freely. They will only be revealed by those who understand the game of capitalism well enough to rewrite its rules.

Until then, the battleground is set. The only question left: will you fight for your stake, or will you surrender your value to those who already saw this coming?

Xoxo,

For Plenty Graphics and Be Well & Co.

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