This week OpenAI launched a new and improved image generator, and now Twitter is flooded with anime versions of historical photos.
Why? The same reason people want to climb Mt. Everest: Because it’s there. Although using an A.I. filter on a photograph involves much less risk of hypothermia.
A few examples:
Even the White House is getting in on the act, using the A.I. filter to mock an illegal alien fentanyl dealer who was recently photographed crying while being handcuffed:
On one hand, I don’t really feel bad for a fentanyl dealer being publicly humiliated. On the other hand, I doubt many readers of this newsletter would’ve been happy if the Biden White House had done this with arrested J6 protesters.
But putting aside the political considerations, there’s an ethical question that keeps bugging me:
Who owns a meme?