After spooking Hollywood, ByteDance will tweak safeguards on new AI model

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is reportedly enhancing the safeguards on its new AI video generation model, Seedance 2.0, following significant backlash from major Hollywood studios. Concerns over copyright infringement were ignited by viral hyperrealistic videos featuring recognizable actors and characters from popular media, prompting calls for stricter intellectual property protections. This development underscores the growing tension between generative AI capabilities and existing content creator rights in the digital sphere. The Seedance 2.0 model has the capacity to produce videos that mimic the likeness of well-known actors and fictional characters from franchises such as Dragon Ball Z, Family Guy, and Pokémon. These generated clips, which gained rapid traction online, have raised serious questions about the ethical and legal boundaries of AI-generated content. ByteDance has acknowledged these concerns, stating its commitment to respecting intellectual property rights and actively working to implement more robust protective measures. The implications of this situation extend to the broader debate surrounding AI regulation and its impact on creative industries. Hollywood groups, including Disney and Paramount, have voiced strong opposition, highlighting the potential for AI to undermine existing copyright frameworks. As AI technologies continue to advance, the need for clear policies and industry-wide standards to govern their deployment and prevent misuse becomes increasingly critical for protecting creators and intellectual property.