TL;DR:
- Getty Images introduces “Generative AI by iStock” at CES 2024.
- It leverages AI models trained on iStock content to create licensable images and artwork.
- The service guards against copyrighted elements and is available in 75 languages.
- Users can modify existing images or generate new ones and integrate them with apps via an API.
- Priced at $15 for 100 generated images, it aims to make AI accessible for creatives.
- Copyright concerns arise as AI models replicate copyrighted content.
- Some companies claim fair use protection, but legal disputes persist.
- Artists have sued companies for copyright infringement.
- Getty Images offers legal coverage for users of Generative AI by iStock.
Main AI News:
In a groundbreaking move, Getty Images, the renowned stock media company, has introduced a revolutionary service at CES 2024, aligning perfectly with the ever-evolving landscape of AI technology. This cutting-edge offering, known as “Generative AI by iStock,” harnesses the power of artificial intelligence models trained on Getty’s extensive iStock stock photography and video libraries, enabling the creation of fresh, licensable images and artwork.
What sets Generative AI by iStock apart is its formidable capability to safeguard against any inadvertent replication of copyrighted content, including products, individuals, locations, or other protected elements. Getty Images has meticulously designed this service to operate seamlessly in 75 different languages, granting users the flexibility to modify existing images or craft entirely new ones. Furthermore, this innovative tool can be effortlessly integrated into existing applications and plugins through its API.
Priced competitively at just $15 for every 100 generated images, Generative AI by iStock aims to provide customers with an accessible and budget-friendly means to incorporate AI into their creative processes. Grant Farhall, Chief Product Officer at iStock, expressed, “Our primary objective with Generative AI by iStock is to empower our customers with a convenient and cost-effective AI solution for their creative endeavors, ensuring that legal protection remains paramount and that their work remains safeguarded from any potential copyright concerns.”
This launch marks Getty’s second foray into the world of GenAI tools, arriving at a time when the debate surrounding AI and copyright reaches new heights. GenAI models, which learn from an extensive repository of artwork, literature, and various content sources to generate text and images closely resembling human creations, sometimes replicate copyrighted material when prompted in specific ways. The recent incident involving Microsoft’s chatbot generating counterfeit Disney posters serves as a pertinent example of this issue.
In a recent article featured in IEEE Spectrum, Gary Marcus, a prominent AI critic, and Reid Southen, a visual effects artist, shed light on how AI systems, including OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, can inadvertently produce copyrighted content without specific instructions. This raises concerns as there are no readily available tools or databases for users to verify potential infringements or receive guidance on how to do so.
The ongoing legal battle surrounding GenAI technology remains contentious, with some companies asserting protection under the fair use doctrine, especially in the United States. However, a definitive resolution to this matter appears distant.
Over the past year, artists have initiated lawsuits against companies such as Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt, alleging that these entities violated their copyrights by training their models on the artists’ works and subsequently generating outputs in their distinctive styles. In a separate case, Getty Images has pursued legal action against Stability AI for alleged copying and processing of millions of images and associated metadata owned by Getty in the United Kingdom.
To address potential legal concerns arising from the use of Generative AI by iStock, several vendors have stepped up by offering to cover the legal fees of implicated customers. Getty Images follows suit with a policy designed to provide a safety net. Any visual content generated by a Generative AI by iStock user automatically includes $10,000 in legal coverage, reinforcing Getty’s commitment to preserving the integrity of creative works within the bounds of the law.
Conclusion:
Getty Images’ launch of “Generative AI by iStock” signifies a significant stride in addressing copyright concerns in the creative industry. This innovative offering empowers creatives with accessible AI tools while reinforcing the importance of copyright protection. As AI’s role in content generation continues to evolve, businesses should remain vigilant in upholding legal standards and protecting intellectual property.
