AI Could Slash Creator Earnings 25% by 2028, UNESCO Says
AI Disruption Could Cut Creator Earnings by Nearly 25% by 2028, UNESCO Warns
UNESCO has warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence could significantly reduce earnings for creators over the next several years, with potential losses approaching 25% by 2028.
The warning focuses on how AI systems are increasingly used to generate, adapt, and distribute creative content, reshaping how value is created and who captures it. For creators, that shift could translate into weaker bargaining power, intensified competition from AI-generated output, and less predictable income streams.
The development matters for the crypto and Web3 ecosystem because many blockchain-based creator tools and marketplaces are built around the idea of direct monetization, digital ownership, and transparent revenue splits. If AI changes the economics of creative work, platforms that rely on creator participation may face pressure to prove that onchain provenance, licensing, and attribution can support sustainable earnings.
UNESCO’s warning adds to a broader policy and industry debate around how creative rights should be protected as AI becomes more capable. Key points of friction include the use of copyrighted works in training data, the attribution of AI-assisted outputs, and the enforcement of licensing terms across digital distribution channels.
While UNESCO’s figures emphasize potential downside risk to creator income, the broader context is that AI is simultaneously expanding content production and lowering costs. The core issue UNESCO highlights is whether the economic benefits of that shift will be shared fairly with the people and communities whose work underpins much of today’s digital culture.
