We’ve heard of image-generating AI, and there have already multiple developments of video-generating AI.

Now, OpenAI, the company responsible for creating ChatGPT, has introduced Sora — an AI capable of generating up to a minute’s worth of high-quality video of just about anything one can imagine. Be it a flock of birds flying across the shoreline of the beach, or a robotic dog wandering through a steampunk-like city, the capability of the AI is indeed endless.

What’s it for, though? Should there be ethical concerns about the use of video-generating AI just like image-generating ones?

Backdrops and/or Background Videos can be Automated

Sometimes we see videos on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or any other social media that uses footage captured using drones or cameras that serve no other purpose than just as fillers, or backgrounds. They are usually there just for the viewers to captivate the moment as the video talks about things relevant to the background videos shown.

So, in this case, if the use of AI can lift away the trouble of setting up footage of the backgrounds, then it will be very welcomed. Sora seems to be doing it very well, for now.

Think of it like a machine that can save your time for more important tasks, like script writing. They’re not a complete replacement, mind you; Sora is still limited to only a minute-long worth of video generation, and they do not come with auditory aid (the footage generated has no sounds).

So don’t be too quick to dismiss what it can do — Sora is just another example of what computing capabilities can achieve in aiding humans in doing mundane tasks. Not to mention that the videos generated aren’t exactly 100% foolproof, regardless of how insanely good they look.

There are some noticeable errors made by the machine. So, humans are still needed to monitor the generated footage to be used in their projects. Again, it’s a machine that helps in saving time, not as a replacement entirely.

AI-generated Videos can Facilitate Projects

For a team dedicated to video production, brainstorming, and discussion are important to ensure the entire group is in line with the vision they have for the project. So, if Sora were to succeed, they could use the machine to produce a draft video of what they want to see in their project.

This would help eliminate unnecessary setbacks in group projects; mainly because each of the team members could have a different set of views on the project based on what the vision for the project they were informed about. Miscommunication is often the reason for so many setbacks in a project, so Sora might just be the key every project needs after all.

Let’s say the video production project requires the team to make some sort of movie based on an underwater city exploration. This is where Sora would come into play; the video generated can be a foundation of idea or vision for the team. By incorporating Sora in these ways, the video production team can gain valuable inspiration, streamline creative processes, and generate a solid foundation for their underwater city exploration movie.

Sora is a powerful tool, yes, but the human touch of creativity, storytelling, and technical expertise remains essential for crafting a truly captivating film.

Ethical Concerns Regarding Sora

I can’t lie — some of the generated videos by Sora are terrifyingly good. OpenAI has showcased some of the videos they have generated using Sora with prompts, and the results are almost human-like. Unlike images generated by AI where you can clearly tell it’s made by an AI, this is different.

If you’ve heard of deepfakes before, then this is just another step in the not-so-right direction. Deepfakes of people have been created to damage their reputations, spread misinformation, or even lead to financial losses. But those were just possibilities that could happen, which is possible now with the help of AI.

Not to mention the use of AI for false narratives, too — AI was used to generate sexually inappropriate pictures of Taylor Swift, which sparked a massive outrage in the public and Taylor Swift herself. There is an ad warning the public about the misuse of AI which, honestly, is a bit spine-chilling. Our privacy is getting less and less of a concern now among the public, and not in a good way as we are becoming less aware of it.

So, the concern about Sora’s potential misuse is clear enough for us. That’s the reason why there are measures to nullify the potential dangers, including licenses to use AI for generating copyright-related content, as well as regulating ethical guidelines to govern AI development and use among governments and tech companies, including data privacy and content moderation.

All in all, it’s not the machine we fear. It’s the humans.

What Can We Do?

Honestly speaking, AI use is inevitable. Companies and governments alike all want to get their hands on it as soon as it’s fully developed and ready to use. What’s more concerning is once the public actually uses the machine — some with malicious intents. So I can’t exactly tell you to ban or protest against the use or development of AI altogether.

Admittedly, it’s not going to be rainbows and sunshine when it comes to AI; there are people out there already waiting to abuse the machine to its full capabilities. So, what we can do is that we can plead or report any misuse of AI-generated content replicating another human being that we know (or even ourselves). It needs to be a team effort, though — one report alone won’t make a difference. With enough unity power, the abused power of AI-generated content can be moderated and keep these people at bay.

Speaking of unity, there’s an article about our power as users of social media and the possible harms it can bring. Otherwise, you might want an easy read and learn about iOS17 and the features students can benefit from. Hope to catch up with you some other time — see you!

About the Author

Muhammad Hariz

Administrator

A ’00 Malaysian freelance writer for MugenMilano. Occasionally writes for fun; otherwise, going to the gym and playing video games would be the R&R for Hariz. Having a keen interest in the area of gaming and technology, Hariz’s written materials would mostly be tech-related and gaming news, particularly in adventure, horror, and fighting genre. Doesn’t stop him from writing other interesting topics, though, as long as it is worth checking out.

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