Sora needs help. OpenAI announces big updates to its social video platform. This new platform allows anyone to create ultra-realistic AI-generated videos of historical figures or people who have consented to their likeness being reproduced. Meta others have temporarily removed or fact-checked user created videos with depictions of Martin Luther King Jr. This follows the campaign to get them not to allow disrespectful depictions of the classic character.
The decision came after Dr. Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., publicly requested that users refrain from sharing AI videos of her father on social media. She went on Instagram to share her frustrations. She acknowledged the high level of sensitivity required in trying to recreate the likeness of a revered historical icon. In a parallel, the daughter of the late actor Robin Williams also begged social media users to refrain from creating AI content that stars her father.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, expressed the company’s apprehensions on the launch day of Sora. And yet, he admits, the ethical intricacies are deep when rolling out a platform that fuses technology to cultural representation.
“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,” – OpenAI Newsroom
OpenAI is still addressing issues relating to the treatment of historical figures. They recently announced plans to allow adult users to engage in “Erotic” chats with ChatGPT in the months ahead. This largely unexpected move adds a powerful new dimension to the AI chatbot. At the same time, it makes sure that there are enough safeguards to handle truly adult content.
Sora’s platform competes head-to-head with TikTok. It’s an attractive host for millions of user-generated videos, everything from remixes to original creations based on popular animated series such as SpongeBob SquarePants, South Park, and Pokémon. Where the platform was intended for filmmakers to showcase their stories, some users misused the platform’s capabilities – leading to the creation of videos that viewers found universally offensive.
In response to this backlash, OpenAI has tightened the content restrictions on their tools and given users greater control over AI-generated content. Specifically, the company plans to introduce granular opt-in copyright controls for content creators, allowing copyright holders more influence over how their likeness is used in AI-generated videos.
Nick Turley from OpenAI stated that the best way to educate the public about new technology is through practical application. This simple philosophy was behind the creation of Sora. At the same time, researchers inside the organization struggled to find a way to balance innovation with their ethical concerns.
OpenAI sees these tweaks as important moves to help bring their platform in line with what the public expects and what’s ethical. The company has a deep-rooted commitment to leveraging innovation and new technology. They will make sure that these advancements honor personal liberties and match with the American public’s sense of right and wrong.
