ARK App
In 2008, screenwriter Ed Bennett-Coles experienced a profound moment of doubt in his career when he came across an article about artificial intelligence (AI) writing its first screenplay. Describing it as a “death moment” in his professional life, this encounter marked a turning point in his creative journey.
Nearly two decades later, Bennett-Coles, along with his friend Jamie Hartman, a renowned songwriter, has launched ARK — a revolutionary blockchain-based app aimed at protecting human-created art from the rising threat of AI-generated content.
“The rise of AI is taking many people’s jobs,” Hartman said, expressing his concerns. He emphasized that ARK is a response to this challenge, stating firmly, “No… this is our work. This is human, and we decide what it’s worth because we own it.”
The app is designed to ensure that human artists retain ownership and control over their creations, offering tools to track and secure intellectual property from its inception to completion.
ARK allows creators to upload early drafts or ideas, immediately establishing proof of creation. Key features like non-disclosure agreements, biometric verification, and blockchain-backed timestamps help verify ownership and safeguard creative work. Additionally, the app enables collaborators to log their contributions, ensuring fair credit and compensation for everyone involved.
Bennett-Coles explained that ARK seeks to challenge the notion that only the finished product holds value. Instead, it places importance on the entire creative process, something they believe is under threat by the growing prevalence of AI.
He and Hartman emphasize that the value of creativity lies not just in the end result but in the journey of making it. “The car trip that Jamie makes when he’s heading to the studio might be as important to writing that song as what happens in the studio itself,” Bennett-Coles said, drawing a contrast between human creativity and AI’s mechanical output.
Scheduled for full release in the summer of 2025, ARK has already gained significant traction. It has secured funding from Claritas Capital, a venture capital firm, and formed a strategic partnership with BMI, a leading performing rights organization.
Bennett-Coles highlighted that decentralization was crucial for ARK to ensure that creators retain full control over their intellectual property. “In order to give the creator autonomy and sovereignty over their IP, it has to be decentralized,” he stated.
Reflecting on the growing influence of AI, Bennett-Coles shared a thought-provoking quote: “Growth for growth’s sake is the philosophy of the cancer cell. And that’s AI.”
He sees a stark contrast between the human-driven process of creation and the cold, impersonal nature of AI-generated work. For him, ARK represents a check and balance, ensuring that human creators retain their rights and control in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Hartman summed it up by saying, “ARK serves as a check and a balance on behalf of the human being,” reinforcing the app’s mission to safeguard human creativity against the rise of AI.
