Sora 2, OpenAI’s text to video model has uprooted the internet. With users generating very realistic content from absurd and surreal videos. It’s capabilities span from Steven Hawking doing quantum tricks on a skate ramp to some more worrying videos of HS, an influential and misogynistic Andrew Tate-like figure doing makeup tutorials. Although this may sound funny and it is funny, in reality, this is an act of defamation and deception that can seriously disrupt reality and reputation.
Sora’s current capabilities are like something out of Black Mirrror. The public can now create videos of iconic people who are brands like KSI. This is a threat to originality and authenticity and I wouldn’t be surprised if Sam Altman and OpenAI get lawsuits. as infringement of copyright is looking like it may become a social norm.
In their terms of conditions it is stated that copyrighted companies, brands people or products had the opportunity to opt out of being able to be generated and if stakeholders did not explicitly do so, it was no fault but their own. Giving the impression that they think they can do what they want and give anyone, and everyone, the ability to do what they want. OpenAI faced an unbelievable amount of backlash and backtracked to an opt-in policy, but the economic damage has already been done.
People, normal people like me and you do not have the power to opt in or out, we are just people and not products. We have no power to stop others. Our privacy can be invaded and you can be made to do and say things that you would never do.
In our interconnected society, the digital means just as much as the physical. The ability for someone faceless to assume the face of you or anyone else can be career or socially ending. Even if you can prove the video is AI and fake, it is already out on the internet and an employer or even a romantic interest now unfortunately associates your face with someone else’s dirty intentions.
Yesterday, I watched an episode of “educating Yorkshire” and the SLT had to deal with an issue of an AI generated video of two boys kissing. These types of software encourage a deterioration of social norms, encouraging homophobia and racism. Their unacceptable thoughts can be actioned through technology and thus accountability as well as privacy is lost.
So far I have addressed five Ps that have been impacted by this software: persona, publicity, profit, people and privacy. Now time for the most important one that encompasses all.
The Public.
What if a government decides to start using AI videos to combat the truth and to correct it to their ‘truth’? What if AI videos become a tool of espionage? Planting misinformation, in the hands of Military generals. What if they infect the news and even the journalists can’t separate true from fake? What if everything we see, read and hear is fake? Would you know?
Some critics hypothesise that world war three will be a battle of information, well if so, Sora 2 has certainly pushed the world towards destruction.
Tom Herring
Stay Saf3 and St4y Sk3ptic4l.
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