A group of artists briefly protested OpenAI’s handling of the early access program for its unreleased Sora AI video generation model. They argued that OpenAI leveraged their unpaid labor for “art washing” rather than genuine collaboration.
OpenAI’s Sora, which generates videos from text prompts, was teased in February 2024, but remains unavailable to the public. A select group of artists received early access. However, on Tuesday, a group of these artists voiced their discontent through an open letter titled “Dear Corporate AI Overlords,” published on Hugging Face.
The artists claimed they were offered early access under the guise of creative partnership and product testing. Instead, they believe OpenAI utilized their unpaid work, including bug testing, feedback, and experimental creations, to bolster the company’s image. They highlighted the disparity between the company’s $150 billion valuation and the minimal compensation offered to a select few artists for a film screening competition, primarily benefiting OpenAI’s PR and marketing.
The 16 artists, many of whom are early adopters of AI in their art, emphasized their support for AI as a creative tool. Their protest targeted the early access program’s perceived exploitation and restrictive nature, including OpenAI’s requirement for video approval before sharing. They criticized the program as a PR stunt rather than a genuine opportunity for open experimentation and critique.
The artists’ Hugging Face tool demonstrating Sora was disabled, and OpenAI temporarily suspended the artist early access program. In a statement to MaagX, OpenAI spokesperson Taya Christianson explained that Sora is still in research preview, and they are working on balancing creativity with safety measures for wider use. She emphasized the voluntary nature of the program, with no obligation for feedback or tool usage. Christianson highlighted OpenAI’s support for artists through grants, events, and other programs, reaffirming their commitment to AI as a powerful creative tool and their focus on making Sora both useful and safe.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously described Sora as a “remarkable moment” on X (formerly Twitter), sharing videos generated from crowdsourced prompts. However, the artists’ letter urged fellow artists to explore open-source video generation tools and encouraged AI companies to prioritize fair compensation and genuine artistic expression.
The artists’ protest underscores the ongoing debate surrounding AI’s role in creative fields and the ethical considerations of using artists’ work in developing and promoting AI tools.
