OpenAI Suspends Sora Video Generation of Martin Luther King Jr. After Estate Request
Key Points
- OpenAI paused Sora video generation featuring Martin Luther King Jr. after a request from King Inc.
- The decision follows user‑created videos that portrayed King in disrespectful ways.
- Other deceased public figures, such as Michael Jackson and Robin Williams, were also depicted in Sora videos.
- Zelda Williams and Bernice A. King publicly asked people to stop sharing AI‑generated videos of their relatives.
- The Washington Post reported videos showing King making monkey noises and wrestling with Malcolm X.
- Ilyasah Shabazz criticized AI developers for lacking moral responsibility.
- OpenAI emphasized free‑speech interests but stressed family control over likenesses.
- The company plans to strengthen guardrails before potentially restoring the capability.
OpenAI has halted the ability of its Sora video‑generation tool to create videos featuring Martin Luther King Jr. following a request from King Inc., the estate that manages the civil‑rights leader’s legacy. The company said it worked with the estate to address how King’s likeness is represented after users produced disrespectful depictions, including videos that showed King making monkey noises and wrestling with Malcolm X. Families of other public figures, such as Zelda Williams and Bernice A. King, also voiced concerns about AI‑generated content. OpenAI emphasized the importance of free‑speech interests while asserting that families should control the use of their relatives’ likenesses, and it noted that other estates can request similar restrictions.
Background
OpenAI announced that it has paused the capability of its Sora video‑generation application to produce videos that include the likeness of Martin Luther King Jr. The suspension came after a request from King Inc., the estate that oversees the late civil‑rights leader’s legacy. In a post on X, OpenAI said it had worked with the estate to address how King’s likeness is represented in Sora generations after users created videos that were deemed disrespectful.
Controversial Videos
Since Sora’s launch, users have generated videos featuring the likenesses of deceased public figures, including Michael Jackson, Robin Williams, and Martin Luther King Jr. Some of the content sparked backlash. According to a report by The Washington Post, one video depicted King making monkey noises while delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech, and another showed King wrestling with Malcolm X. Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X, questioned why AI developers were not acting "with the same morality, conscience, and care... that they'd want for their own families."
Family Reactions
Families of the public figures expressed frustration over the AI‑generated videos. Zelda Williams, daughter of the late Robin Williams, appealed on Instagram for people to stop sending her AI‑generated videos of her father, describing the practice as "maddening." Bernice A. King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., echoed the sentiment on Threads, asking the public to cease sharing videos of her father.
OpenAI’s Response
OpenAI acknowledged the strong free‑speech interests in depicting historical figures but affirmed that "public figures and their families should ultimately have control over how their likeness is used." The company indicated that the pause is intended to strengthen guardrails for historical figures and that the ability to generate such videos could be restored after additional safeguards are put in place. OpenAI also noted that owners of other historical figures’ estates can request that their likenesses not be used in Sora videos.