OpenAI Pauses AI Videos Of Martin Luther King Jr. After Backlash
OpenAI has paused video generations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on its new Sora 2 app after backlash over disrespectful AI-generated depictions of the civil rights leader. The company announced the decision on X on Sunday, confirming it had reached a resolution with King, Inc., the organization representing the late Dr. King’s estate.
The move comes less than a week after OpenAI launched Sora 2, a video-generation app that allows users to create realistic clips from text prompts. The app quickly went viral, surpassing a million downloads in five days, but drew widespread criticism after users shared disturbing AI videos of deceased public figures, including Dr. King, Malcolm X, Whitney Houston, and Kobe Bryant.
Backlash against OpenAI’s Sora 2
Social media users began circulating videos showing doctored or inappropriate depictions of prominent figures. The app features videos showing police body-camera footage of Whitney Houston looking intoxicated, Martin Luther King JR. Making monkey noises during his “I Have a Dream” speech, basketball player Kobe Bryant flies aboard a helicopter, mirroring the crash that killed him and his daughter in 2020, according to The Washington Post.
In an Instagram story, Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late actor Robin Williams, told fans to stop sending her AI videos of her father. Dr. Bernice King shared the commentary from a Variety story on Instagram, saying, “I concur concerning my father. Please stop.” Malcom X’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, also asked users to stop creating AI videos of her father.
OpenAI’s Response
In a statement on X, OpenAI said, “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.”
The AI company also thanked Bernice A. King for reaching out on behalf of King, Inc., John Hope Bryant, and the AI Ethics Council for facilitating the conversation.
Image: Getty
