Getty Images bans AI-generated art over copyright concerns
The stock photo provider says the technology is too risky.
Don't expect to see stock photos from DALL-E and other AI image creation tools. Getty Images chief Craig Peters told The Verge in a statement that his company has banned AI-generated art over the potential for copyright disputes. There are "unaddressed rights issues" with the technology, the CEO said, and this would help customers minimize the risk to their finances and reputations.
Peters didn't say if Getty had already encountered legal trouble with AI-generated content. He noted there was an "extremely limited" amount of that material on the platform. The company is teaming with the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity to create filters for AI-produced material, and is asking users to flag anything that slips through. Rivals like Shutterstock are already screening at least some imagery.
The move isn't shocking. While using AI to create an image isn't necessarily illegal, generators frequently sample images that may be copyrighted. Getty and its customers could face legal repercussions for effectively stealing art and profiting from it. There's also the chance governments could enact laws and regulations limiting use of the technology.
There's no certainty the ban will work well in practice. As The Verge notes, it's not hard to find AI-made pictures on Getty at the moment. However, we wouldn't the company to change its tune unless it finds AI systems guaranteed to generate completely legal pictures.
