OpenAI has blocked users from generating videos of Martin Luther King Jr. using its AI video tool, Sora, after the platform was exploited to create disrespectful deepfakes of the civil rights leader. The move comes in response to complaints from King’s estate over offensive content created and shared online.
According to OpenAI, the depictions included doctored videos of Dr. King using profanity during his historic “I Have a Dream” speech and making absurd remarks unrelated to the event. The company labeled the content “inappropriate” and confirmed that it violated internal standards.
In a public statement, OpenAI said it will now allow high-profile individuals or their representatives to opt out of being featured in Sora-generated content. “While there are strong free speech interests in depicting historical figures,” the company said, “OpenAI believes public figures and their families should ultimately have control over how their likeness is used.”
OpenAI did not specify whether legal pressure was involved but acknowledged the significance of respecting the legacy of deceased public figures. The King estate has not issued a public statement in response to the ban.
The company’s decision represents a shift in its policy toward depictions of public figures. Sora, which allows users to create lifelike videos using simple text prompts, was released last year and immediately drew attention for its realism and creative potential. However, it also sparked controversy over its potential for abuse—especially in producing manipulated or misleading videos.
OpenAI previously faced similar criticism when it released an AI voice assistant that resembled actress Scarlett Johansson. The voice was pulled after Johansson accused the company of using her likeness without consent.
The move to shut down MLK depictions follows growing calls from both public figures and the families of the deceased to curb the misuse of AI in impersonating iconic individuals.
