Unreleased Sora model leaked online in protest against artistic "exploitation"
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Occurred: November 2024
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A group of artists leaked OpenAI’s unreleased Sora video-generation tool on Hugging Face, accusing the company of exploiting unpaid labour and misrepresenting collaboration efforts.
What happened
What happened
The leak involved a functional interface to Sora’s API, enabling public generation of 10-second videos without restrictions.
The artists argued their contributions as beta testers—including feedback and creative work—were exploited for OpenAI’s PR and R&D while receiving minimal compensation (e.g., screening opportunities instead of payment).
OpenAI swiftly removed access, but not before users created and shared AI-generated content, raising concerns about uncontrolled dissemination.
Why it happened
Why it happened
Protesters accused OpenAI of "art washing," using artists to validate Sora’s credibility while censoring outputs and gatekeeping access to the tool.
The company’s then USD 150 billion valuation contrasted sharply with unpaid or undercompensated labour, fueling claims of systemic exploitation.
The leak aimed to pressure OpenAI toward transparency, accountability, fair compensation, and ethical collaboration.
What it means
What it means
Directly impacted artists. Face potential legal risks for breaching NDAs but highlight systemic inequities in AI-developer relationships.
Creative industries. Increased anxiety over AI tools like Sora replacing skilled labour and devaluing artistic processes.
Society. Highlights tensions between innovation and ethical labor practices, with broader implications for intellectual property rights and AI regulation. The incident underscores risks of prioritising corporate growth over equitable collaboration in emerging technologies.
System 🤖
System 🤖
Operator:
Developer: OpenAI
Country: USA
Sector: Media/entertainment/sports/arts
Purpose: Generate video
Technology: Machine learning; Text-to-video
Issue: Accountability; Employment; Transparency
Research, advocacy 🧮
Research, advocacy 🧮
Page info
Type: Issue
Published: April 2025
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