Background

OpenAI announced that it has paused the capability of its Sora video‑generation application to produce videos that include the likeness of Martin Luther King Jr. The suspension came after a request from King Inc., the estate that oversees the late civil‑rights leader’s legacy. In a post on X, OpenAI said it had worked with the estate to address how King’s likeness is represented in Sora generations after users created videos that were deemed disrespectful.

Controversial Videos

Since Sora’s launch, users have generated videos featuring the likenesses of deceased public figures, including Michael Jackson, Robin Williams, and Martin Luther King Jr. Some of the content sparked backlash. According to a report by The Washington Post, one video depicted King making monkey noises while delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech, and another showed King wrestling with Malcolm X. Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X, questioned why AI developers were not acting "with the same morality, conscience, and care... that they'd want for their own families."

Family Reactions

Families of the public figures expressed frustration over the AI‑generated videos. Zelda Williams, daughter of the late Robin Williams, appealed on Instagram for people to stop sending her AI‑generated videos of her father, describing the practice as "maddening." Bernice A. King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., echoed the sentiment on Threads, asking the public to cease sharing videos of her father.

OpenAI’s Response

OpenAI acknowledged the strong free‑speech interests in depicting historical figures but affirmed that "public figures and their families should ultimately have control over how their likeness is used." The company indicated that the pause is intended to strengthen guardrails for historical figures and that the ability to generate such videos could be restored after additional safeguards are put in place. OpenAI also noted that owners of other historical figures’ estates can request that their likenesses not be used in Sora videos.

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