Ever since PETA lost a major court case in 2017 pleading the case for a crested macaque after a selfie taken by this primeape went viral online, Fair Use and copyright law have been pretty straightforward in the assertion that only humans can hold copyright. With the rise of AI however, this question is notably being brought into question, with issues of ownership and sufficient alteration to machine-made content being pain points for determining whether different audio, videos, and images made using generative AI tools breach fair use laws or not.
For example, OpenAI recently removed their newly launched “Sky” chatbot after Hollywood star Scarlett Johannson publicly spoke out, claiming that after rejecting an offer from CEO Sam Altman, the product still featured a voice that “sounded almost exactly like the actress.” This is supported by the evidence of Altman posting the word “her” following the product’s initial launch, leading many to draw the logical conclusion to the 2013 Spike Jonze film of the same name, which centers around the relationship between the main character and an Artifical Intelligence app, with the protagonist’s machine companion coincidentally being voiced by Johannson.
This is far from isolated incident—and while the actress has received temporary vindication after “Sky” was begrudgingly placed on an indefinite pause—artists like Celine Dion and public figures like Steve Harvey have been vocal about the need for protections against scam artists using their voices and faces in AI-generated content aimed targeting and exploiting their dedicated audiences. This is an issue being fought in the courts, but one that is being felt primarily by everyday users, when bad actors use the NIL (name, image and likeness) of a recognizable influencer to manipulate fans into buying falsely advertised products.
The time for passive observation is over—creators deserve tools to defend their online identity, with digital tools like our TraceID allowing users to verify and track where and how their likeness is being used online. With proper AI protection, we can begin to close the gap between innovation and accountability. Learn more and read the full article here. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/scarlett-johansson-warns-ai-dangers-says-theres-no-boundary-here