Bryan Cranston has said he is \u201cgrateful\u201d to OpenAI for cracking down on deepfakes of himself on the company\u2019s generative AI video platform Sora 2, after users were able to generate his voice and likeness without his consent.<\/p>\n
The Breaking Bad star approached the actors\u2019 union Sag-Aftra with his concerns after Sora 2 users were able to generate his likeness during the video app\u2019s recent launch phase<\/a>. On 11 October<\/a>, the LA Times described a Sora 2 video in which \u201ca synthetic Michael Jackson takes a selfie video with an image of Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston\u201d.<\/p>\n Living people must ostensibly give their consent, or opt in, to feature on Sora 2, with OpenAI stating since launch<\/a> that it takes \u201cmeasures to block depictions of public figures\u201d and that it has \u201cguardrails intended to ensure that your audio and image likeness are used with your consent\u201d.<\/p>\n But when Sora 2 launched, several publications including the Wall Street Journal<\/a>, the Hollywood Reporter<\/a> and the LA Times<\/a> reported widespread anger in Hollywood after OpenAI allegedly told multiple talent agencies and studios that if they didn\u2019t want their clients or copyrighted material replicated on Sora 2, they would have to opt out \u2013 rather than opt in.<\/p>\n OpenAI disputed these reports, telling the LA Times<\/a> it was always its intention to give public figures control over how their likeness was used.<\/p>\n On Monday, Cranston issued a statement through Sag-Aftra, thanking OpenAI<\/a> for \u201cimproving its guardrails\u201d to prevent users generating his likeness again.<\/p>\n \u201cI was deeply concerned not just for myself, but for all performers whose work and identity can be misused in this way,\u201d Cranston said. \u201cI am grateful to OpenAI for its policy and for improving its guardrails, and hope that they and all of the companies involved in this work, respect our personal and professional right to manage replication of our voice and likeness.\u201d<\/p>\n Two of Hollywood\u2019s biggest major agencies, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and United Talent Agency (UTA) \u2013 which represents Cranston \u2013 have repeatedly raised alarms about the potential risks of Sora 2 and other generative AI platforms on their clients and their careers.<\/p>\n But on Monday, UTA and CAA co-signed a statement with OpenAI, Sag-Aftra and talent agent union the Association of Talent Agents, stating that what had happened to Cranston was an error, and that they would all work together to protect actors\u2019 \u201cright to determine how and whether they can be simulated\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile from the start it was OpenAI\u2019s policy to require opt-in for the use of voice and likeness, OpenAI expressed regret for these unintentional generations. OpenAI has strengthened guardrails around replication of voice and likeness when individuals do not opt-in,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n Actor Sean Astin, the new president of Sag-Aftra, warned that Cranston \u201cis one of countless performers whose voice and likeness are in danger of massive misappropriation by replication technology\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cBryan did the right thing by communicating with his union and his professional representatives to have the matter addressed. This particular case has a positive resolution. I\u2019m glad that OpenAI has committed to using an opt-in protocol, where all artists have the ability to choose whether they wish to participate in the exploitation of their voice and likeness using AI,\u201d Astin said.<\/p>\n \u201cSimply put, opt-in protocols are the only way to do business and the NO FAKES Act will make us safer,\u201d he added, referring to the NO FAKES Act currently being considered by Congress<\/a>, which seeks to ban the production and distribution of AI-generated replica of any individual without their consent.<\/p>\n OpenAI publicly supports the No FAKES Act, with the CEO, Sam Altman, saying the company is \u201cdeeply committed to protecting performers from the misappropriation of their voice and likeness\u201d.<\/p>\n Sora 2 does allow users to generate \u201chistorical figures\u201d, defined broadly as anyone both famous and dead. However, OpenAI has recently agreed to allow representatives of \u201crecently deceased\u201d public figures to request that their likeness be blocked from Sora 2.<\/p>\n Earlier this month OpenAI announced that they had \u201cworked together\u201d with the estate of Martin Luther King Jr and, at their request, was pausing the ability to depict King on Sora 2 as the company \u201cstrengthens guardrails for historical figures\u201d.<\/p>\n Recently Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late actor Robin Williams, pleaded with people to \u201cplease stop\u201d sending her AI videos of her father<\/a>, while Kelly Carlin, daughter of the late comedian George Carlin, has called AI videos of her father \u201coverwhelming, and depressing\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n