OpenAI recently granted 300 visual artists and filmmakers early access to Sora, its new generative AI video tool, seeking feedback on the technology. However, the program was shut down within three hours following significant artist protests.

The artists published an open letter expressing concerns about being used for "art washing" and unpaid R&D. Their main objections included:

• Being used as unpaid testers and PR representatives
• Strict content approval requirements from OpenAI
• Lack of compensation despite OpenAI's $150 billion valuation
• Concerns about the tool's development ahead of public release

OpenAI's spokesperson Niko Felix responded that participation was voluntary with no obligations, stating: "Sora is still in research preview, and we're working to balance creativity with robust safety measures for broader use."

The company has confirmed that Sora's public release is planned for later this year, pending resolution of:

• Technical scaling requirements
• Safety measures
• Impersonation concerns
• Election-related impact considerations

OpenAI has shown some support for artists through initiatives like the Tribeca Festival's Sora Shorts program, which funded five filmmakers to create short films using the model.

Related Articles

Previous Articles