OpenAI States It Has Paused Video Generations Of MLK After His Daughter, Bernice A. King, Voiced Concerns About Likeness Use
OpenAI has reached a resolution with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s estate.
OpenAI’s Sora 2
As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Sam Altman’s OpenAI released Sora 2 on Sept. 30, a video generation model that claims to be “accurate, realistic, and more controllable than prior systems.”
After its release, however, users were able to generate videos with copyrighted characters and historical figures, The Guardian reports.
Users have created videos of MLK, some of which depict him eating a seafood boil with Malcolm X or hosting a WWE event.
@storyaiworks Malcolm X and MLK eat a crab boil. #malcolmx #martinlutherking #mlk #crab
Bernice A. King Weighs In
On Instagram, Bernice A. King shared her thoughts on AI use for video content in response to a Variety article about Zelda Williams, daughter of the late actor Robin Williams. Robin’s likeness was also used in Sora-generated videos. Zelda expressed her disapproval to Variety, stating, “It’s gross” and “not what he’d want.”
Dr. Bernice King shared Zelda’s commentary adding, “I concur concerning my father. Please stop.”
On Oct. 16, Open AI shared a statement on X, noting that the estate of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had reached a resolution with the company. The statement confirmed that video generations of the civil rights leader will be paused.
“The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. (King, Inc.) and OpenAI have worked together to address how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s likeness is represented in Sora generations. Some users generated disrespectful depictions of Dr. King’s image. So at King, Inc.’s request, OpenAI has paused generations depicting Dr. King as it strengthens guardrails for historical figures,” the statement read.
“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,” the statement continued.
