Lifestyle
Hollywood pushes OpenAI for consent
Figures from the entertainment industry — including the late Fred Rogers, Tupac Shakur, and Robin Williams — have been digitally recreated using OpenAI’s Sora technology. The app’s ability to do so with ease left many in the industry deeply concerned.
Sora/Open AI/Annotation by NPR
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Sora/Open AI/Annotation by NPR
OpenAI says it has released new policies for an artificial intelligence tool called Sora 2, in response to concerns from Hollywood studios, unions and talent agencies.
The tool allows users to create realistic, high-quality audio and video, using text prompts and images.
“It’s about creating new possibilities,” OpenAI promised in a promotional video for Sora 2. “You can view the power to step into any world or scene, and letting your friends cast you in theirs.”
But with Sora 2, some creators have also made fake AI-generated videos of historical figures doing things they never did. For example, Martin Luther King, Jr. changing his “I Have a Dream” speech, Michael Jackson, rapping and stealing someone’s chicken nuggets, or Mr. Rogers greeting rapper Tupac Shakur to his neighborhood.
Some videos reimagined the late Robin Williams talking on a park bench and in other locations. His daughter Zelda begged fans to stop sending her such AI-generated content, calling it “horrible slop.”
“You’re not making art,” she wrote on Instagram, “You’re making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of the lives of human beings.”
Actress Chaley Rose is one of many in the entertainment industry worried about OpenAI’s video-generating technology.
Karolina Turek/Chaley Rose
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Karolina Turek/Chaley Rose
“It’s kind of cool, it’s kind of scary,” says actress Chaley Rose, who’s best known for her role in the TV series Nashville. “People can borrow from actors, our vulnerability and our art to teach the characters they create how to do what we do. I would hate to have my image out there and not have given permission or to actually be the one doing the acting and having control over the performance.”
Hollywood’s top talent agencies first sounded the alarm.
“There is no substitute for human talent in our business, and we will continue to fight tirelessly for our clients to ensure that they are protected,” United Talent Agency wrote in a statement last week. “When it comes to OpenAI’s Sora or any other platform that seeks to profit from our clients’ intellectual property and likeness, we stand with artists. The future of industries based on creative expression and artistry relies on controls, protections, and rightful compensation. The use of such property without consent, credit or compensation is exploitation, not innovation.”
Creative Artists Agency issued a similar warning last week.
Last year, California’s governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill requiring the consent of actors and performers to use their digital replicas.
Now, the talent agencies and SAG-AFTRA (which also represents many NPR employees) announced they and OpenAI are supporting similar federal legislation, called the “NO FAKES” Act.
Until now, some of the videos created using Sora 2 have relied on copyrighted material. For instance, there’s a video that shows the animated character SpongeBob Squarepants cooking up illicit drugs.
An unauthorized AI-generated video depicts SpongeBob SquarePants preparing illicit drugs.
Sora/Open AI/Annotation by NPR
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Sora/Open AI/Annotation by NPR
The Motion Picture Association, which represents major Hollywood studios, said in a statement that since Sora 2’s release, “videos that infringe our members’ films, shows, and characters have proliferated on OpenAI’s service and across social media.”
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the national executive director of the union SAG-AFTRA told NPR last week that it wasn’t feasible for rightsholders to find every possible use of their material.
“It’s a moment of real concern and danger for everyone in the entertainment industry. And it should be for all Americans, all of us, really,” says Crabtree-Ireland.
SAG-AFTRA says actor Bryan Cranston alerted the union to possible abuses. Now, the union and talent agencies say they’re grateful OpenAI listened to such concerns.
The company has announced an “opt-in” policy allowing all artists, performers, and individuals the right to determine how and whether they can be simulated. OpenAI says it will block the generation of well-known characters on its public feed and will take down any existing material not in compliance.
Last week, OpenAI agreed to take down phony videos of Martin Luther King, Jr., after his estate complained about the “disrespectful depictions” of the late civil rights leader.
Lawyer Suing Fat Joe
Indicted After Allegedly Mowing Down Process Server
Published
Tyrone Blackburn — the lawyer suing Fat Joe — has been indicted for allegedly running over a process server with a car … TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to us Blackburn has been officially indicted over the alleged May incident … though we’re told the indictment will remain sealed until his arraignment.
ICYMI … Blackburn was arrested in June after cops say he got into his vehicle while a 66-year-old process server was giving him papers connected to the Fat Joe case.
Blackburn then allegedly put the car in reverse and hit the process server in the leg … causing a somewhat major knee injury that the server claims he needed surgery to fix.
TMZ.com
Blackburn represents Terrance “T.A.” Dixon, who sued Fat Joe for millions, alleging he helped Joe write music. Later on, Dixon and Blackburn filed another lawsuit accusing Joe of engaging in sexual relations with minors in a lawsuit Joe’s attorney Joe Tacopina said was full of “lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure.”
Tyrone was booked on assault about six weeks after the alleged incident is said to have taken place.
Is the internet getting worse?
Getty Images
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Getty Images
Do you ever feel like the internet just doesn’t work as well as it used to?
Or maybe you wish you could go back to the old internet? Where your search queries actually served you what you wanted, and your feeds weren’t overrun by ads? Well, it’s not just you – the internet IS getting worse, and platforms are getting harder to leave. But how did we get here? Journalist and tech activist Cory Doctorow joins Brittany to lay out why in his new book, Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It.
Follow Brittany Luse on Instagram: @bmluse
For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.
This episode was produced by Liam McBain. It was edited by Neena Pathak. Our supervising producer is Barton Girdwood. Our executive producer is Veralyn Williams. Our VP of programming is Yolanda Sangweni.
Lifestyle
Three L.A. creatives show you how — and where — to wear La Beauté, Louis Vuitton’s new makeup line
From the cafe to Catch One: Day to night
Amber J. Phillips, @amberabundance
Day
You’ll find Amber workshopping her stories at a cafe in Leimert Park, with a sheer, subtle eye shadow that creates a glow around her almond eyes.
Night
And at night? That pop of blue in the corner of her eye expands. Spot her at the legendary Catch One — formerly the Catch, founded by Jewel Thais-Williams in 1973 — living the life that informs her work, among those who make life worth living.
“When I started adding music into my [writing] practice, it was honoring the fact that I don’t want to just run my political lens through policy, but through how I’m living my everyday life.
Black people, especially Black queer people … dance spaces, play spaces is where we form who we are. It’s where we are testing identity.
I love being able to play with makeup at home and then take it under some blue lights onto the dance floor, where really no one’s judging you.
As I grow as a writer, it’s important for me to not just respond to the world around me, but to tell the story of the world that I’m actually participating in.”
Amber is wearing: La Beauté Louis Vuitton LV Ombres eye shadow palette in Force of Nature 951 and Sky Is the Limit 950 ($250); La Beauté Louis Vuitton LV Rouge in New Dimension 405 and Vanity Beige 103 ($160). Available at select Louis Vuitton stores. louisvuitton.com
Girl about town: Glamour in any weather
Tiara Kelly, @tiararkelly
Depending on the day’s agenda, Tiara may be at the downtown library or posted in Santee Alley. She’s a downtown girl, but don’t be surprised if she pops up in Leimert Park to connect with her community in a makeup look that’s anything but casual.
“I’m either super plain or super dramatic.
If I’m wearing white, I’ll add glitter to radiate a pure energy. If I do pink, I want all shades of pink. I love pink makeup on my skin. If I’m wearing bright colors, I like bright makeup. Blush — lots of blush all over. I want to be as extra and drag as I can.”
Tiara is wearing: La Beauté Louis Vuitton LV Ombres eye shadow palette in Dazzling Gaze 350 and Cosmic Dreams 450 ($250); La Beauté Louis Vuitton LV Rouge in Legendary 503, High in Red 507 and Tonic Orange 601 ($160). Available at select Louis Vuitton stores. louisvuitton.com
It’s date night: L.A. fine
Jenn Torres, @jen4romtheblock
Jenn’s date nights with her girlfriend always revolve around food — and her lipstick is foolproof.
“This look would definitely be for an upscale restaurant, a jazz club or a museum. Very nighttime romance. I don’t drink anymore, but if I did, it would be wine night or a cocktail.
I love the classics: sharp eyeliner, mascara, brown lip liner with pink gloss, some blush and I’m done.” (She makes it sound so easy.)
Makeup artist Dennese Rodriguez Hermoso’s simple step-by-step lip technique on Jenn:
- Line the outer lips with a brown lipliner and blend inward.
- Apply LV Rouge in Cosmic Trip on the outer edges of the lip.
- Blend LV Rouge in Cosmic Trip into the center of the lip. Make sure to leave room for LV Baume in Tender Bliss.
- Apply LV Baume in Tender Bliss.
- Blend with LV Rouge in Cosmic Trip.
- Now smile.
Jenn is wearing: La Beauté Louis Vuitton LV Ombres eye shadow palette in Beige Memento 150, Nude Mirage 250 ($250); La Beauté Louis Vuitton LV Rouge in Cosmic Trip 401 ($160); La Beauté Louis Vuitton LV Baume in Tender Bliss 030 ($160). Available at select Louis Vuitton stores. louisvuitton.com
Creative direction and words Darian Dandridge
Production Mere Studios
Makeup Dennese Rodriguez Hermoso
Hair Elonte Quinn
Nails Lila Robles a.k.a. Nail Jerks
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