Metaphysic CEO Tom Graham Files For Copyright Registration of His AI Likeness with U.S. Copyright Office
In Brief
Tom Graham, the CEO of generative AI startup Metaphysic, has filed for copyright registration of the AI-generated likeness of himself.
The photorealistic AI-generated version of Tom Graham was created using Metaphysic’s AI content creation software.
Graham hopes to set a precedent for public figures to protect their digital identity in the age of generative AI.
Tom Graham, the CEO of generative AI startup Metaphysic, has filed for copyright registration of the AI-generated likeness of himself with the U.S. Copyright Office. Graham claims to be the first person to do so as he and Metaphysic seek to create new intellectual property rights for any individual in the future.
To generate his AI avatar, Graham had to record a three-minute video of himself on a mobile phone to capture his likeness, voice, and biometric data, which were then fed into Metaphysic’s AI content creation tool.
According to a press release, a lot of effort went into creating and curating the training dataset and working with the team at Metaphysic to hone in on the AI look Graham wanted. Beyond that, Graham and his team at Metaphysic also composited and merged the AI model output into the underlying video to create an accurate and hyperrealistic AI version of himself.
“Generative AI can create content that looks and feels real, and regular people’s avatars can be inserted into content by third parties without their consent. This is not right, and we should never lose control over our identity, privacy or biometric data,”
Graham said in a statement.
By creating his AI likeness and registering it for copyright, Graham hopes to set a precedent for public figures and individuals on how they can protect their digital identities, likeness, and intellectual property. However, Graham’s intention seems ironic as a video on Metaphysic’s website demonstrates the company’s ability to create realistic-looking AI-generated deepfakes featuring celebrities like Tom Cruise, Simon Cowell, and Elvis.
This move comes as hyperrealistic AI-generated images of Donald Trump and Pope Francis created using Midjourney went viral in recent weeks, resulting in Midjourney ending its free trial as the platform refines its content moderation guidelines.
Whether Graham succeeds in registering the copyright and creating new IP rights for others to follow in his footsteps remains to be seen.
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About The Author
Cindy is a journalist at Metaverse Post, covering topics related to web3, NFT, metaverse and AI, with a focus on interviews with Web3 industry players. She has spoken to over 30 C-level execs and counting, bringing their valuable insights to readers. Originally from Singapore, Cindy is now based in Tbilisi, Georgia. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications & Media Studies from the University of South Australia and has a decade of experience in journalism and writing. Get in touch with her via cindy@mpost.io with press pitches, announcements and interview opportunities.
More articlesCindy is a journalist at Metaverse Post, covering topics related to web3, NFT, metaverse and AI, with a focus on interviews with Web3 industry players. She has spoken to over 30 C-level execs and counting, bringing their valuable insights to readers. Originally from Singapore, Cindy is now based in Tbilisi, Georgia. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications & Media Studies from the University of South Australia and has a decade of experience in journalism and writing. Get in touch with her via cindy@mpost.io with press pitches, announcements and interview opportunities.