Getty develops AI image generator exclusively trained on its catalogue of licenced images

Getty Images joined forces with Nvidia earlier in March this year to introduce a cutting-edge tool called Generative AI by Getty Images, offering users the capability to craft images utilising Getty's extensive library of licensed photos.

This innovative tool, while bearing a somewhat unwieldy name, is exclusively trained on the extensive Getty Images collection, including premium content, ensuring users full copyright protection.

In essence, anyone utilising this tool for commercial image creation will be legally shielded against copyright issues, as guaranteed by Getty.

Addressing copyright concerns: A growing issue

The use of copyrighted material for training large language models and text-to-image systems has emerged as a significant concern within the creative community. Notable examples include Microsoft, OpenAI, and others facing copyright-related challenges in their AI model training efforts.

Introducing Generative AI by Getty Images – a new tool that pairs our best-in-class creative content with the latest AI technology for a commercially safe generative AI tool! Trained on Getty Images’ world-class creative content, the tool works seamlessly with our expansive… pic.twitter.com/qSG9CG2CFh

— Getty Images (@GettyImages) September 25, 2023

Getty collaborated with Nvidia, harnessing its Edify model from the Nvidia generative AI model library Picasso to power Generative AI by Getty Images. This collaboration ensures that the generated images maintain the quality and authenticity associated with Getty's extensive photo library.

A hands-on exploration of the tool revealed its proficiency in rendering lifelike human figures. For instance, when prompted to create an image of a ballerina in an arabesque position, the tool delivered remarkably human-like results, surpassing similar attempts with other models.

Creative limitations, pricing, and licensing for image generation

However, Generative AI by Getty Images imposes limitations on the types of images users can create. It refrains from generating images depicting actual individuals, such as political figures or celebrities, to prevent any potential manipulation or recreation of real-life events.

Access to Generative AI by Getty Images is available through the Getty Images website, with pricing based on prompt volume. Users gain perpetual, worldwide, and unlimited rights to the images they create.

Although the copyright status of AI-generated images remains somewhat ambiguous, Getty's approach mirrors its licensing model, wherein users own the image but license it for use.

Future features and integration

Getty plans to allow users to incorporate their own data to further train the model and generate images in their distinctive style. Additionally, the company will introduce other services later in the year.

In an era where AI and copyright concerns intersect, Getty Images has taken a proactive approach to ensure both the protection of creators' rights and the facilitation of creative image generation.

Generative AI by Getty Images, driven by the partnership with Nvidia, marks a significant step in bridging the gap between AI technology and copyrighted content, offering users a powerful tool while addressing the evolving landscape of copyright issues in AI development.