When we first evaluated Sora, OpenAI’s latest AI video application, we noted that its social feed was populated with memes showcasing Martin Luther King Jr. On Thursday, OpenAI declared that it has halted the feature that permitted users to produce AI-generated videos using the likeness of the civil rights icon. By 2025, deepfakes of this nature have emerged as a well-recognized concern, rendering this an expected dilemma. This action came in response to backlash from the King family, who disapproved of disrespectful representations of the American figure on Sora.

OpenAI announced on X: “The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. (King, Inc.) and OpenAI have cooperated to address how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s likeness is portrayed in Sora creations. Certain users generated disrespectful interpretations of Dr. King’s image. At the request of King, Inc., OpenAI has suspended the ability to create portrayals of Dr. King while it enhances protections for historical figures. Although there are significant free speech considerations in representing historical personalities, OpenAI maintains that public figures and their families should ultimately dictate how their likeness is utilized. Authorized representatives or estate owners may request that their likeness not be utilized in Sora appearances.”

The Washington Post indicated that King’s likeness was exploited in various racist manners. For example, some videos depicted MLK making monkey sounds during his “I Have A Dream” address and engaging in wrestling with activist Malcolm X. Well-known YouTuber Hank Green criticized Sora 2, particularly highlighting a video featuring MLK performing the 6-7 meme in a notably crude form of AI content.

Dr. Bernice King, King’s daughter, shared on Instagram urging individuals to “please stop” employing AI to create counterfeit recreations of her father, reflecting sentiments echoed by Robin Williams’ daughter, Zelda, who recently voiced her concerns on this topic as well.

While Sora users may currently be unable to generate videos of MLK, it is clear that AI deepfakes of renowned personalities will continue to be a persistent challenge.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, the parent company of Mashable, initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI in April, claiming it violated Ziff Davis copyrights in the training and operation of its AI systems.