After a swirl of objections from IP owners over generative AI video model Sora 2, the estate of Martin Luther King, Jr. and OpenAI have agreed to pause images of King created by the platform.
In a joint statement, the estate and the tech company cited the existence of “disrespectful depictions” of King. The release of Sora 2 in recent weeks has created a firestorm, with CAA, the MPA, major unions and other Hollywood stakeholders leveling criticism.
Last month, as it prepared to release the game-changing Sora update, OpenAI notified copyright holders that they would need to opt out of Sora 2 if they wished to withhold their property from being used. Several major IP owners, among them Disney, did just that before OpenAI CEO Sam Altman walked back the initial policy.
“Some users generated disrespectful depictions of Dr. King’s image,” the statement said. “So at King, Inc.’s request, OpenAI has paused generations depicting Dr. King as it strengthens guardrails for historical figures. While there are strong free speech interests in depicting historical figures, OpenAI believes public figures and their families should ultimately have control over how their likeness is used. Authorized representatives or estate owners can request that their likeness not be used in Sora cameos. OpenAI thanks Dr. Bernice A. King for reaching out on behalf of King, Inc., and John Hope Bryant and the AI Ethics Council for creating space for conversations like this.”
While virtually all of society and the corporate world have been upended by the arrival of AI, Hollywood is in a particularly fraught situation with Sora and other video models. The industry, already facing economic pressure, has begun implementing AI in various phases of production, particularly in below-the-line areas like visual effects. At the same time, studios and streamers are approaching the next negotiating window with major above-the-line unions, with AI at the top of the list of issues to be raised by labor leaders.
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