OpenAI delays Media Manager amid creator backlash

In May, OpenAI announced plans for ‘Media Manager,’ a tool to allow creators to control how their content is used in AI training, aiming to address intellectual property (IP) concerns. The project remains unfinished seven months later, with critics claiming it was never prioritised internally. The tool was intended to identify copyrighted text, images, audio, and video, allowing creators to include or exclude their work from OpenAI’s training datasets. However, its future remains uncertain, with no updates since August and missed deadlines.

The delay comes amidst growing backlash from creators and a wave of lawsuits against OpenAI. Plaintiffs, including prominent authors and artists, allege that the company trained its AI models on their works without authorisation. While OpenAI provides ad hoc opt-out mechanisms, critics argue these measures are cumbersome and inadequate.

Media Manager was seen as a potential solution, but experts doubt its effectiveness in addressing complex legal and ethical challenges, including global variations in copyright law and the burden placed on creators to protect their works. OpenAI continues to assert that its AI models transform, rather than replicate, copyrighted material, defending itself under ‘fair use’ protections.

While the company has implemented filters to minimise IP conflicts, lacking comprehensive tools like Media Manager leaves unresolved questions about compliance and compensation. As OpenAI battles legal challenges, the effectiveness and impact of Media Manager—if it ever launches—remain uncertain in the face of an evolving IP landscape.