TechCrunch Industry News Patreon CEO calls AI companies’ fair use argument ‘bogus’; plus Nvidia is quietly building a multibillion-dollar behemoth
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Mar 19, 2026 A debate over whether AI companies must pay creators for training data, with claims that fair use defenses are shaky. A discussion on how licensing deals with big publishers change the economics for artists. A look at Nvidia’s stealth growth in networking, turning it into a multibillion-dollar AI data-center powerhouse.
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Fair Use Claim Looks Contradictory When Big Deals Exist
- AI training data deals expose a contradiction in fair use claims.
- Jack Conte notes AI firms pay big publishers like Disney and Condé Nast while claiming fair use, implying creators deserve payment too.
Patreon Origin Story Frames His Stance On Creator Pay
- Conte draws on his experience founding Patreon to argue creators need payment for AI training.
- He frames Patreon as a solution he built after struggling as a musician to get people to pay for creative work.
Plan For Creators During AI Disruption
- Plan for creators in the AI transition rather than assuming change equals loss.
- Conte advises building systems that value and incentivize human creativity alongside AI, arguing it's better for society.