October 18, 2025

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OpenAI Pauses MLK Videos, Bezos & Dimon Warn AI Bubble

OpenAI has paused the creation of videos featuring Martin Luther King Jr. on its Sora platform following complaints from the King estate about disrespectful and offensive depictions. The company stated that public figures and their families should have control over how their likenesses are used and is strengthening safety measures for historical figures. This move highlights ongoing ethical questions surrounding AI's ability to recreate deceased individuals and the need for robust safeguards. Meanwhile, in the automotive sector, Stellantis and Pony AI are beginning tests of self-driving vans in Luxembourg, marking Pony AI's first collaboration with a major Western automaker and expanding autonomous vehicle testing into Europe. On the financial front, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have raised concerns about a potential bubble in the artificial intelligence market, suggesting asset prices may be detached from fundamental business value, even as major tech companies continue significant AI investments. In education, MCPS is training teachers on using AI in the classroom to enhance lessons, while law schools are criticized for not adequately preparing students for the increasing use of AI in the legal profession. Cognito Systems, formerly Syx Labs, has launched Martha AI to automate customer support, and Levo.ai introduced a platform to unify AI security and compliance. The Vatican hosted a conference exploring AI for justice and peace, calling for an end to an AI arms race. Interview Kickstart has added TinyML training to its AI engineering courses to address the demand for edge AI expertise.

Key Takeaways

  • OpenAI has paused the creation of Martin Luther King Jr. videos on its Sora platform due to disrespectful depictions, stating that public figures and their families should control the use of their likenesses.
  • The King estate, represented by Dr. Bernice A. King, complained about offensive content, prompting OpenAI to strengthen safety measures for historical figures on Sora.
  • Stellantis and Chinese robotaxi company Pony AI are commencing tests of self-driving vans in Luxembourg, marking Pony AI's entry into European autonomous vehicle testing with a major Western automaker.
  • JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have expressed concerns that the AI market may be experiencing a bubble, with asset prices potentially disconnected from fundamental business value.
  • Despite concerns about an AI market bubble, major tech companies continue to invest heavily in AI development.
  • MCPS is training teachers on integrating AI into education to enhance lesson materials and student engagement.
  • Law schools are reportedly failing to adequately train students on AI, potentially leaving future lawyers unprepared for its increasing use in the legal profession.
  • Syx Labs has rebranded as Cognito Systems and launched Martha AI, a platform designed to automate customer support for businesses in Web3, e-commerce, and fintech.
  • Levo.ai has launched a platform aimed at unifying AI security and compliance throughout the AI lifecycle, from development to runtime.
  • A Vatican conference on 'Digital Rerum Novarum' explored the use of AI for peace and social justice, with participants calling for an end to an AI arms race and advocating for human-centered AI development.

OpenAI pauses Sora videos of MLK Jr. after disrespectful AI depictions

OpenAI has stopped users from creating AI-generated videos of Martin Luther King Jr. on its Sora platform. This decision came after the estate of Martin Luther King Jr. complained about disrespectful and offensive videos being made. OpenAI stated that public figures and their families should have control over how their likeness is used. The company is now working to improve safety measures for historical figures on Sora. This change allows estate owners to request that their figure's likeness not be used in Sora videos.

AI videos of the dead spark alarm with legal experts

OpenAI's Sora video app is facing criticism for generating realistic deepfakes of deceased historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Karl Marx. Relatives of figures like Malcolm X and Robin Williams have expressed distress over these unauthorized digital recreations, calling them disrespectful and a distortion of legacies. Legal experts question the ethics and legality of using AI to recreate the dead, especially concerning copyright and the potential for historical revisionism. OpenAI has stated that while depicting historical figures has free speech interests, families should control their likenesses.

OpenAI blocks Martin Luther King Jr. AI videos after offensive content

OpenAI has stopped the creation of videos featuring Martin Luther King Jr. on its Sora app due to vulgar and racist depictions. The decision was made at the request of the King Center and Dr. Bernice King, who objected to the videos. OpenAI stated it is strengthening safeguards for historical figures. This action follows concerns that AI tools like Sora operate with insufficient safety measures. The company will now allow representatives of deceased public figures to request limitations on the use of their likenesses.

OpenAI halts Sora videos of MLK Jr. over disrespectful deepfakes

OpenAI has stopped users from creating videos of Martin Luther King Jr. on its Sora platform due to disrespectful depictions. The company announced that public figures or their representatives can request to opt out of appearing in Sora videos. Sora has become very popular since its launch in late September. The platform allows users to create AI-generated videos from text prompts. OpenAI is working to improve safety measures for historical figures on the platform.

OpenAI pauses AI deepfakes of Martin Luther King Jr.

OpenAI has stopped generating videos of Martin Luther King Jr. on its Sora platform after admitting the content was disrespectful. The company will pause images of Dr. King while strengthening safety measures for historical figures. This move comes after controversial videos featuring other public figures like John F. Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth II were shared. OpenAI stated that public figures and their families should control how their likenesses are used. Estate owners can now request to opt out of using their likeness in Sora videos.

OpenAI's Sora bans MLK Jr. deepfakes after family complaint

OpenAI has paused the ability for users to create videos of Martin Luther King Jr. on its AI tool Sora due to disrespectful depictions. The company stated that public figures and their families should have control over their likenesses. This action follows a complaint from Dr. Bernice A. King, on behalf of the King estate. Sora has faced ethical questions regarding the use of AI technology, with users creating inappropriate content featuring historical figures. OpenAI thanked Dr. King for initiating the conversation.

OpenAI blocks Sora 2 users from using MLK Jr.'s likeness

OpenAI is temporarily blocking users of its Sora 2 AI video generator from depicting Martin Luther King Jr. due to complaints about 'disrespectful depictions.' The decision was made after Bernice A. King, daughter of MLK Jr., contacted the company. OpenAI and the King Estate Inc. issued a joint statement saying generations depicting Dr. King have been paused to strengthen guardrails for historical figures. OpenAI stated that public figures and their families should control how their likenesses are used. The company also noted that authorized representatives can request a public figure's likeness not be used.

OpenAI Pauses Martin Luther King Jr. AI Videos

OpenAI has paused the creation of videos featuring Martin Luther King Jr. on its Sora 2 AI platform due to disrespectful depictions. The company stated that public figures and their families should have control over how their likenesses are used. This action was taken at the request of King, Inc. and Dr. Bernice A. King. OpenAI is strengthening its safety measures for historical figures. The platform has seen many users create videos of recognizable people in various scenarios. Hollywood is particularly concerned about AI video models like Sora.

OpenAI blocks MLK Jr. videos on Sora after offensive portrayals

OpenAI has stopped users from creating videos of Martin Luther King Jr. on its Sora app following complaints from the civil rights leader's estate about offensive content. OpenAI and the King estate stated that while depicting historical figures has free speech interests, estates should control the use of likenesses. The Sora app, which is invite-only, has faced criticism for its safety measures, allowing users to create fake videos of many public figures. Experts note OpenAI's approach of acting after complaints, rather than proactively implementing safeguards.

Stellantis and Pony AI to test self-driving vans in Europe

Stellantis NV and Chinese robotaxi company Pony AI Inc. will begin testing autonomous vans in Luxembourg in the coming months. This collaboration, which focuses initially on light commercial vehicles, could lead to future passenger robotaxi services. The tests will use the electric Peugeot e-Traveller and employ Level 4 autonomous systems, allowing vehicles to drive themselves in most situations. This partnership marks Pony AI's first collaboration with a major Western automaker and expands autonomous vehicle testing into Europe.

Pony.ai partners with Stellantis for European robotaxi tests

Chinese robotaxi company Pony.ai is partnering with Stellantis to test autonomous vehicles in Europe. The companies will begin testing in Luxembourg in the coming months, with plans to expand to other European cities next year. Pony.ai will provide the self-driving software, while Stellantis will supply electric vehicles like the Peugeot e-Traveller. This collaboration aims to establish a safety record for regulatory approval in the European market. The partnership highlights the growing global efforts in autonomous vehicle deployment.

Is the AI market in a bubble?

Experts like JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos are suggesting that the artificial intelligence market may be experiencing a bubble. They believe that asset prices might be disconnected from the fundamental value of AI businesses. Despite these concerns, major tech companies continue to invest heavily in AI development. This situation raises questions about the sustainability of current AI market valuations and its future trajectory.

AI is everywhere, but people might not care

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly prevalent in various aspects of life. However, some reports suggest that many people are indifferent to its growing presence. This article explores the widespread nature of AI and the public's apparent lack of concern. It questions the reasons behind this indifference and what it signifies for the future of AI adoption and its impact on society.

Syx Labs becomes Cognito Systems, launches Martha AI for customer support

Syx Labs has rebranded as Cognito Systems, transitioning into a deep-tech company focused on AI, blockchain, and smart systems. The company also launched Martha AI, a new platform designed to automate customer support for businesses in Web3, e-commerce, and fintech. Martha AI aims to help companies improve response times and scale efficiently. Cognito Systems, founded in 2022, previously developed technology for Zap Africa, a crypto exchange. The company is committed to building technology infrastructure tailored for Africa.

Vatican conference explores AI for justice and peace

Experts gathered at the Vatican for a conference titled 'Digital Rerum Novarum' to discuss the use of artificial intelligence for peace, social justice, and human development. The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences hosted over 50 global experts to promote ethical and human-centered AI. Participants launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and called for an end to the AI arms race. Discussions also focused on regulating AI, environmental sustainability, the future of work, and protecting fundamental human rights.

Levo.ai platform unifies AI security and compliance

Levo.ai has launched a platform designed to unify AI security and compliance from development through runtime. The platform addresses challenges enterprises face in scaling AI due to complex machine-to-machine interactions. Levo.ai provides runtime visibility, monitoring, threat detection, and protection for AI systems. It aims to give businesses the confidence to deploy AI safely and quickly, enabling them to realize AI's benefits faster. The solution automates security and compliance across applications, agents, LLMs, and more.

Law schools failing students by not teaching AI

Many law schools are failing to teach students about artificial intelligence, despite its widespread adoption in the legal profession. This lack of training risks leaving future lawyers unprepared for ethical missteps and malpractice, as AI tools are increasingly used for research and drafting. AI tools can outperform traditional methods but are prone to errors like 'hallucinations.' Law schools need to provide hands-on experience and teach the technical and ethical foundations of AI to ensure graduates are competent and competitive.

MCPS trains teachers on using AI in education

MCPS hosted training sessions in August to help teachers understand and use artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. This initiative comes as AI tools are increasingly being adopted in education, with universities like Duke and Oxford also providing access to AI platforms. Teachers are learning to use AI as a tool to enhance educational experiences and create more engaging lessons. While MCPS has not yet set specific policies for student AI use, teachers are finding ways to use AI for tasks like generating quizzes and creating unique lesson materials.

Interview Kickstart adds TinyML training for AI engineers

Interview Kickstart has integrated TinyML (Tiny Machine Learning) content into its machine learning interview preparation course to meet the growing demand for edge AI expertise. This update addresses a skills gap as companies expand their edge computing initiatives, requiring engineers who understand on-device AI deployment. The enhanced curriculum covers TinyML principles, model optimization, and hardware-aware design. The program is designed for working professionals and includes live sessions, assignments, and mock interviews.

Sources

AI safety OpenAI Sora deepfakes Martin Luther King Jr. historical figures AI ethics likeness control autonomous vehicles robotaxis Stellantis Pony AI Luxembourg AI market bubble JPMorgan Chase Amazon AI adoption customer support AI Cognito Systems Martha AI Web3 e-commerce fintech AI for peace social justice Vatican Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences AI arms race AI regulation human rights AI security AI compliance Levo.ai runtime visibility threat detection AI in law legal education AI hallucinations AI in education teacher training TinyML edge AI machine learning Interview Kickstart