2024-01-26 15:37:35
A famous photographer showed how AI can easily copy his copyrighted images. This case calls attention to the need to protect artists’ works in the age of AI.
Tim Flach, famous for his expressive animal photos, experimented with Midjourney, an AI image generator. To his surprise, he discovered that the AI can easily recreate its own photos. Flach, whose name appeared on a list of artists targeted by Midjourney, shares AI versions of his works with PetaPixel. These reproductions highlight the incredible ability of AI to imitate artistic style, highlighting the copyright implications.
Recreate your own images with AI, such as Midjourney
The controversy centers on the use by AIs like Midjourney of works existing for their training. A British photographer, famous for his expressive images of animals, has successfully recreated his own photographs using Midjourney AI. This proves the precision of artificial intelligence.
To support his argument, Tim Flach showed two of his photos to PetaPixel. Then he reproduced them via Midjourney by typing his name. The results, very convincing, demonstrate the ability of AI to precisely imitate the style of a famous photographer.
A photographer whose name was found on a list of artists whose style the AI image generator Midjourney wanted to emulate tells PetaPixel that “creatives must be remunerated.”https://t.co/uP9d90T383
— PetaPixel (@petapixel) January 24, 2024
The ease with which AI reproduces works raises questions about intellectual property protection. The photographer suggests a model “registration” for the use of the works. This model would reverse the current “unsubscribe” model. He compares this approach to publishing photos in a magazine. In this case, the photographer’s authorization constitutes an essential preliminary step.
The economic impact on artists
The economic cost to artists is crucial in this question. Indeed, the photographer has invested a lot in his projects, emphasizing the importance of fair compensation. This is especially relevant when the AI uses their own image. According to him, the danger lies in improving AI technology.
Gradually, the artists’ unique style could be copied. And this, without recognition or remuneration. He calls this phenomenon “process image whitening” or “data laundering”. Additionally, it poses a serious threat to creative people.
On the other hand, the potential value of Midjourney is assessed at 10 billion dollars. This contrasts with the precariousness of the artists contributing to these technologies. Flach’s example is significant. He recreated his own photos on Midjourney. This shows how easily AI generates stylized images. His experiments reveal the current capability of AI. They also indicate its future potential. It is suggested that AI could become exponentially more powerful.
The current situation involves a lawsuit against Midjourney and Stable Diffusion. This reflects a broader conflict between art and technology. The central issue is the control of creators over their original works. This case, still ongoing, highlights the challenges for artists. They face a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence.
1706285526
#asks #create #reproduces #protected #image