Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Communication

Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Marco Dehnert

Committee Member

Ryan Neville-Shepard

Second Committee Member

Kim Petrone

Third Committee Member

Lin Oliver

Abstract

This thesis seeks to create empirical results to ground what has been a largely theoretical discussion about the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) on copyright law in the United States. AI has disrupted traditional ideas of creativity and expression, which are vital communication tools. Copyright is a regulatory agent to encourage the production of unique communication products by giving owners complete rights to their work. Copyright principles conflict with current AI model training practices. This research considers how AI literacy may provide insight into copyright knowledge and AI attitudes for prediction of how common law and AI regulation policy may form over the next few years. A survey of undergraduate students was conducted to measure AI attitudes, AI literacy uses and gratifications of AI, creative mindsets, and copyright knowledge. Statistically significant results showed that having a fixed mindset towards creativity negatively predicts AI literacy. In turn, AI literacy could predict copyright knowledge for this survey’s participants. This thesis provides an empirical foundation to further emerging conversation about the roles AI plays in communication processes, particularly communication that would traditionally be deemed creative communication.

Keywords

Artificial intelligence, copyright, human-machine communication, art

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