OpenAI’s much anticipated video generation model, Sora, has got an unofficial early release after a group of artists leaked access in protest.
The group has accused OpenAI of using them as “PR puppets” and has taken advantage of their creative skills as unpaid labor in the lead up to the launch.
OpenAI is already fighting fires as more and more content creators are demanding recompense for the company using their work to train its AI models – often, they argue, without permission.
Suspended Release for Sora
The group published a webpage with a link for access to Sora but the interface was taken down just three hours later as OpenAI leapt into action.
The link was accompanied by a statement on Hugging Face in which the group of around 20 artists stated: “Hundreds of artists provide unpaid labor through bug testing, feedback and experimental work for the program for a $150B valued company.”
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They argue that their time should be on the clock and that OpenAI has also used their status to promote Sora without paying them. They argue that their “pay” for involvement – which includes the chance to have their Sora-created films screened – offer “minimal compensation which pales in comparison to the substantial PR and marketing value OpenAI receives.”
“We received access to Sora with the promise to be early testers, red teamers and creative partners. However, we believe instead we are being lured into ‘art washing’ to tell the world that Sora is a useful tool for artists,” they write.
How Did the OpenAi Protest Unfurl?
The group created a public webpage that allowed any visitor to use the Sora access that OpenAI had provided to the artists but for their private use and testing.
The Washington Post reports that the stunt was “unusual” because “feedback from early testers is tightly controlled by companies, and harsh criticism is rarely made public”.
It could also be that the artists had signed NDAs. André Allen Anjos, a musician who goes by the name of RAC, is among the people who had been given access but he is not a protester. He said that most artists were “excited about being involved” but was limited in what he could say because of the NDA. Breaking the NDA could see a potential legal wrangle in the future.
The protesters stated: “We are not against the use of AI technology as a tool for the arts (if we were, we probably wouldn’t have been invited to this program).”
What’s Next for Sora?
For now, the access to Sora has been paused but OpenAi has staunchly defended its testing process.
In a statement to Variety, OpenAI rep Niko Felix said: “Hundreds of artists in our alpha have shaped Sora’s development, helping prioritize new features and safeguards,” adding: “Participation is voluntary, with no obligation to provide feedback or use the tool.”
In the meanwhile, as OpenAI regroups, the protesters are asking for members of the public to sign their letter in support.
