OpenAI has failed to deliver its promised Media Manager tool, which was intended to help creators control the use of their work in AI training data. According to reporting by Kyle Wiggers for TechCrunch, the tool was announced in May but has shown no signs of development. Former OpenAI employees told TechCrunch that the project was not considered a priority internally. The tool was meant to identify copyrighted content across multiple media types and allow creators to specify their preferences for AI training inclusion or exclusion. Fred von Lohmann, a member of OpenAI’s legal team working on Media Manager, has since moved to a part-time consultant role.
The company currently faces multiple lawsuits from creators, including authors and media organizations, over unauthorized use of copyrighted material in AI training. While OpenAI offers some basic opt-out methods, experts say these are inadequate. Legal experts interviewed expressed skepticism about the tool’s potential effectiveness, with some suggesting it might unfairly burden creators with protecting their work. The company maintains that using copyrighted materials is essential for developing competitive AI models and continues to claim fair use protections in ongoing legal disputes.