The question is not humans vs machines.
The “baguette tradition”: a legal blueprint for craftsmanship
In France, not all baguettes are created equal. The “baguette de tradition française” is protected by the 1993 Décret Pain, which strictly defines its ingredients (flour, water, salt, yeast or levain) and process (traditional fermentation, on-site baking). No additives, no preservatives, no shortcuts. This law was designed to preserve artisanal craftsmanship and ensure consumers know exactly what they’re getting: a product shaped by human skill and tradition.
In contrast, a “baguette ordinaire” has no such protections. It can include additives, dough improvers, freezing, and industrial production, making it cheaper and more accessible, but less connected to craftsmanship.
This distinction isn’t about banning industrial bread, it’s about creating a clear, legally enforceable difference between what’s artisanal and what’s mass-produced.
Why this matters for creativity and AI
The same logic that protects the baguette de tradition could – and should – apply to human creativity in the age of AI.
Current copyright rules: human authorship only
Today, copyright law in the US, EU, and beyond protects only works with identifiable human authorship.
Fully AI-generated content? No protection.
AI-assisted works? Only if a human’s creative choices shape the final output.
This creates a natural parallel to the baguette law:
- “Tradition” (human-created) works must meet a threshold of human intellectual contribution.
- AI is treated as a tool, not a creator – just like an oven or a mixing machine in a bakery.
How to protect human creativity: a “baguette-style” framework
What if we applied the baguette tradition model to creativity? Here’s how it could work:
1. a protected label for human-created works
Legislators could establish a “human-created” certification – a voluntary but legally enforceable label that guarantees:
- Process transparency: clear documentation of human creative decisions.
- Minimum human control: proof that AI was used as a tool, not the primary author.
- No fully autonomous AI outputs: just as a baguette de tradition can’t use additives, a human-created work can’t be entirely machine-generated.
This label would give consumers, businesses, and regulators a trusted way to identify works where human creativity is meaningfully present.
2. Mandatory AI disclosure
Another approach: keep copyright rules as they are (protecting only human authorship) but require clear labeling for AI-generated or heavily AI-assisted works.
- AI-generated? Must be disclosed.
- Human-created with AI assistance? Highlight the human role.
- Fully human-created? Given additional recognition or incentives.
This ensures transparency while rewarding human-driven creativity.
Strategic takeaways for creators and businesses
For Creators:
- Document your process. Show how your creative decisions shaped the final work.
- Emphasize human control. Position AI as a tool, not the author.
- Leverage labels. If a “human-created” certification exists, use it to differentiate your work in a crowded market.
For Businesses:
- Adopt internal standards. Mirror food-quality regimes by setting traceability rules for human input in creative work.
- Limit automation for signature outputs. Protect your brand’s craftsmanship by keeping key creative decisions human-led.
- Label clearly. Transparency builds trust—whether your work is human-created, AI-assisted, or fully AI-generated.
The Future: Craftsmanship in a Machine-Driven World
The “baguette de tradition” teaches us that craftsmanship can thrive alongside industrial efficiency – if we protect and value human skill.
The same should be true for creativity in the age of AI.
By borrowing from food protection frameworks, we can create a system that:
✅ Preserves human creativity as a distinct, valued category.
✅ Encourages transparency in how AI is used.
✅ Rewards craftsmanship – whether in bread or in art.
The question isn’t human vs. machine, it’s how we design systems that let both flourish, without losing what makes human creativity irreplaceable.
