Altman: AI Art a 'Net Win' Despite Ghibli's Concerns

Select Language:

Sam Altman Defends AI-Generated Art at APEC CEO Summit

Sam Altman at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, on November 16, 2023. — Reuters

OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, has come to the defense of AI-generated art, asserting that despite its shortcomings, the technology offers significant advantages to society.

His remarks arose amidst a wave of criticism from artists and fans following the rise of AI-generated images inspired by Studio Ghibli’s style, which recently gained widespread attention online.

"I believe that the democratization of content creation has been a net positive for society," Altman stated during a podcast with Varun Mayya. "While it’s not without its downsides—there are certainly challenges posed to traditional art forms overall, the benefits outweigh the negatives."

This backlash coincided with the release of ChatGPT’s GPT-4o image generation, which spurred allegations of style appropriation against the renowned Japanese animation studio known for its distinct visual style. A resurfaced video of co-founder Hayao Miyazaki questioning the integrity of AI, labeling it “an insult to life,” became part of the debate, although some have suggested the clip may have been misconstrued.

Altman acknowledged the potential job losses resulting from AI-generated art: "It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t lead to some job displacement, and those with unique talents may face increased competition. However, overall, I see it as a real boon to society."

He pointed out that OpenAI exists due to the advancements in technology that have lowered entry barriers. "OpenAI only became a reality because technological hurdles were significantly reduced,” he explained.

Highlighting India as OpenAI’s fastest-growing market, Altman noted, "India was among the first nations outside the United States to fully embrace AI."

While he recognized the risks associated with AI, Altman expressed optimism about its impact. He predicted that AI could enable programmers to be “ten times more efficient,” although he expects that results will vary across different sectors.

Ultimately, Altman concluded that AI is likely to make both creative and technical roles more accessible, even if it causes disruptions to established practices along the way.