From AV Club · · 1m 10s
AI Steals Comics Jokes and New Yorker Signatures
AI-generated women steal comedian jokes and New Yorker cartoonists' signatures without consent.
In brief
AI-generated women steal comedian jokes and New Yorker cartoonists' signatures without consent. An AI avatar copied comedian George Brett Olson's jokes and movements, while OpenAI generated New Yorker-style cartoons with real artists' signatures. Originally reported by AV Club.
AI Steals Comedian Jokes
Comedian George Brett Olson discovered an AI-generated woman stole his jokes, movements, and outfit color from his stand-up video.
“A working comedian had his joke stolen by an anonymous person who created a big-butted hot girl AI avatar, which then stole his jokes and dozens of others', monetized the theft, and ran an adult content side hustle.”
AI Monetizes Theft
The AI avatar amassed a massive following on stolen content and directed viewers to its OnlyFans page without violating Meta's terms of service.
“A working comedian had his joke stolen by an anonymous person who created a big-butted hot girl AI avatar, which then stole his jokes and dozens of others', monetized the theft, and ran an adult content side hustle.”
New Yorker Signatures Stolen
Nieman Labs found ChatGPT added real New Yorker cartoonists' signatures to AI-generated cartoons without their consent.
“ChatGPT has stolen the signatures of more than 15 New Yorker cartoonists, including Brendan Loper, Harry Bliss, Emily Flake, Pat Byrnes, George Booth, Liza Donnelly, and more.”
OpenAI's Secret Deal
OpenAI signed a licensing deal with Condé Nast in 2024 but trained on New Yorker cartoons despite being barred from doing so.
“In 2024, OpenAI signed a licensing deal with The New Yorker's parent company, Condé Nast.”
AI Threatens Cartoonists
Cartoonist Jason Adam Katzenstein warned AI could render individual cartoonists obsolete by stealing their work and labor.
“It’s an uncanny simulacrum of an impression of a joke, but it’s not the point for it to actually be funny or good. The point is that it’s trying to deal a death blow to labor.”
Microsoft Calls It Theft
Microsoft director Brent Hecht labeled AI training the 'largest theft of labor in human history' in court documents.
“Microsoft director of applied science Brent Hecht calling AI training the 'largest theft of labor in human history.'”
What matters most
An AI avatar copied comedian George Brett Olson's jokes and movements, while OpenAI generated New Yorker-style cartoons with real artists' signatures.
