Thank you to everyone who took part in ACID’s recent AI & Design survey. We received a fantastic number of responses, and the results are clear: AI is posing significant challenges to designers and more needs to be done to protect IP in the wake of AI growth.

What do the findings tell us?

The survey findings indicate that AI-driven copying is an emerging and significant concern for the design sector. Nearly one-third of respondents (29%) reported that their work had been copied by AI within the last 12 months, while 18% had not experienced such copying. Notably, more than half of respondents (53%) were unsure whether their work had been copied, highlighting a substantial level of uncertainty around the detection and identification of AI-related infringement.

Among those who had experienced AI-driven copying, the most common response was that it had occurred a few times (14% of all respondents), while a smaller but notable proportion (5%) reported that their work had been copied more than 20 times. These findings suggest that, for affected designers, AI-enabled copying is often a recurring rather than isolated issue.

The financial impact also appears to be significant. Although most respondents were unable to estimate the associated costs, nearly one-quarter (24%) reported losses of between £1,000 and £10,000, while 4% indicated costs exceeding £10,000, with some reporting losses above £50,000. This suggests that where financial impacts can be identified, they may be substantial.

What can we conclude?

Overall, the findings point to a growing challenge for designers. A sizeable proportion report repeated experiences of AI-driven copying and associated financial losses, while the high level of uncertainty suggests that the true scale of AI-related infringement may be under-recognised. This lack of visibility may leave designers vulnerable to infringement that is difficult to detect, quantify, or address, underscoring the need for greater transparency, awareness, and effective mechanisms for identifying and responding to AI-enabled copying.

How can you add your voice?

The survey is still open and your response counts! Complete it here.

Sign the ACID AI and IP Charter and pledge your support to IP respect, ethics and compliance in design.

Contact us any time if you have any concerns, queries or would like to share your story. Email [email protected]