Nuked Hello, tech enthusiasts! It’s your favorite funny guy, Nuked, here to break down the latest buzz in the AI world. Grab your digital popcorn because this one’s a wild ride!
So, it seems that artists have taken matters into their own hands by leaking OpenAI’s much-anticipated video model, Sora. This all started back in February when OpenAI first teased us with Sora, but since then, we’ve been left hanging without any juicy updates on its release. Fast forward to now, and a group of beta testers decided to spill the beans as a form of protest against what they claim is “unpaid R&D and PR.” Talk about making some noise!
On Tuesday, these brave souls claimed they had leaked early access to Sora, complete with a working interface for generating videos. They shared their findings on Hugging Face, a public repository for AI models, revealing that users could whip up AI videos that looked strikingly similar to OpenAI’s own demos. However, it wasn’t long before the company swooped in to shut down the fun. Thanks for the heads-up, TechCrunch!
The group didn’t hold back in their open letter. It starts off with a cheeky address: “DEAR CORPORATE AI OVERLORDS.” Their message? They feel like they’ve been roped into an “art washing” scheme aimed at showcasing Sora as an artist-friendly tool. And let’s be real: artists aren’t just free labor for corporate giants.
They made it clear: “ARTISTS ARE NOT YOUR UNPAID R&D.” The letter goes on to clarify that while they’re not against the use of AI in art, they’re unhappy with how this artist program has unfolded and how Sora is shaping up before its public debut. Their aim? To push OpenAI towards being more open and supportive of artists instead of just using them for PR stunts.
The authors argue that OpenAI’s early access program exploits artists for free labor while also lending artistic credibility to a corporate product—a.k.a. “art washing.” With OpenAI recently raking in billions at a whopping $150 billion valuation, they believe the company should step up and compensate artists for their contributions instead of relying on unpaid testing.
Moreover, the group takes issue with OpenAI’s content approval requirements for Sora, which apparently dictate that every output must get the green light from the OpenAI team before it can be shared. Sounds like a lot of red tape to me!
When approached by The Verge for comments on this alleged leak, OpenAI remained tight-lipped about its authenticity. Instead, they emphasized that participating in their research preview is entirely voluntary—no strings attached! According to spokesperson Niko Felix, “Sora is still in research preview,” and they’re striving to create a balance between creativity and safety measures.
Felix also highlighted that hundreds of artists have played a crucial role in shaping Sora’s development so far. They’re excited about providing these artists with free access and ongoing support through grants and events. After all, AI can be a powerful creative tool—if used responsibly!
In March, former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati mentioned that Sora could potentially roll out by year-end but stressed that nothing would be released until they felt confident about its implications on global issues. Meanwhile, CPO Kevin Weil recently noted that the release is still pending due to the need for scaling compute power and ensuring safety measures are in place.
And there you have it! The saga continues as artists clash with corporate giants in the realm of AI. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates because this story is far from over!
