Artists Issue 'Game Over' Copyright Warning Over New ChatGPT Tool

Artists are expressing strong concern over a new image creation tool developed by tech giant OpenAI that can generate artwork mimicking their unique styles. This tool, known as the GPT-4o model, was launched recently and has been widely criticized for its potential to infringe on copyright rights.

OpenAI's founder, Sam Altman, has promoted GPT-4o as a means of expanding creative freedom. However, the platform's image-generation capabilities come with fewer restrictions compared to its predecessors, raising alarms among artists. Users can quickly produce images that closely resemble popular copyrighted characters and styles, including those from Wallace & Gromit, The Simpsons, The Muppets, and Studio Ghibli.

Altman even uploaded an AI-generated profile picture of himself styled after Studio Ghibli, showcasing the tool's creative potential. Despite OpenAI's projections of significant revenue growth—expecting to increase to £9.8 billion (approximately $12.7 billion) by 2025—many artists feel they will not receive any compensation for the use of their art styles.

Notable British illustrator Dave McKean, known for his work in comics and album covers, has already seen his distinctive style reproduced almost perfectly. He is worried that tools like GPT-4o could drastically undermine the art industry, saying, ‘Why would anyone pay me to illustrate anything if they can simply tell a computer to do it in my style?’ He advocates for keeping AI out of creative fields, warning that if government regulations ease copyright protections, it would essentially be the end of artistic livelihoods.

Studio Ghibli's founder, Hayao Miyazaki, has also criticized AI art creation, calling it a profound disrespect to human life. He remarked that humanity appears to be losing its confidence in its own creativity.

Legal experts have raised questions about whether OpenAI has established licensing agreements with the artists whose work it emulates. Luiza Jarovsky, from the AI, Tech & Privacy Academy, suggests that such agreements are unlikely, hinting at the possibility of numerous copyright lawsuits following the tool's usage.

The current government, led by Keir Starmer, plans to exempt big tech companies from copyright laws, allowing them to utilize copyrighted content to enhance AI technologies. This would mean creators could only opt out of their work being used without their permission.

McKean believes that AI-generated images will signify a detrimental turn for artists, going as far as to say ‘it's game over for artists like me.’ He emphasizes that AI does not possess originality but merely copies the creative works of actual artists.

Alongside McKean, children's author Chris Bradford has found his works being accessed and imitated by AI programs. Bradford, who has written popular series like Bodyguard and Young Samurai, expressed frustration that AI can replicate his writing style closely, saying, ‘There needs to be recompense.’

Another writer, Harriet Evans, shared her shock when ChatGPT produced a narrative that emulated her unique storytelling, leading her to feel threatened by the implications for her career. She articulated the emotional weight behind her work, expressing dismay at the idea of future generations reading machine-generated stories.

OpenAI claims it has mechanisms to prevent the generation of images mimicking the styles of living artists, but allows broader styles that have historically inspired user-created artwork. A representative from OpenAI mentioned their commitment to enhancing creative freedom while also being responsive to user feedback as they refine their policies to address these concerns.

artists, copyright, technology