An AI Tool Is Reportedly Hauling AI-Generated Mario Images Offline
An AI tool is reportedly removing AI-generated images of Mario from the internet.
The Verge reports that posts on social media website X/Twitter containing images of Nintendo’s iconic mascot generated by Elon Musk’s xAI’s Grok AI tool were pulled offline due to takedown notices originating from a company called Tracer.
Tracer describes itself as “a next-generation brand protection solution” that “constantly finds, analyzes, and stops brand abuse across Web2 and Web3 digital channels.” It uses what it calls a Human-in-the-Loop AI brand protection technology, which “dramatically shortens the time from detection to enforcement by intelligently automating the review process and automatically offering an enforcement recommendation.”
Nintendo and Tracer are yet to comment.
The Verge’s Tom Warren saw an image of Mario doing various non-family friendly things (smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer) he had generated using Grok was pulled from X/Twitter following a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaint issued by a “customer success manager” at Tracer. Warren’s Grok-generated image of Xbox mascot Master Chief playing on a PS5 remains, however.
some images I’ve managed to create using X’s new Grok 2 AI image generator. Mario with a cigarette and a beer, and Master Chief playing on a PS5 pic.twitter.com/RvluDXqnw2
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) August 14, 2024
According to Warren, the takedown notice he received namechecked Nintendo of America’s copyright in relation to the Mario character, suggesting Tracer was acting on Nintendo’s behalf. Another account that used Grok to generate an image of Luigi as an IDF soldier recently said their content was also pulled offline. Amid the purge, Mario fan art is reportedly being caught in the crossfire.
Guess who got a copyright claim, cease & desist, and warning of account termination because of a drawing of Mario. 👉THIS GUY👈
Apparently drawing Nintendo characters are copyright infringement.
The sue-happy Nintenja’s strike again yet wonder why they get so much hate.🤦🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/PCOlWIBnXs
— OtakuRocku🔥Taku🔥 (@OtakuRockU_) September 23, 2024
While there is no confirmation that Nintendo is involved in the specifics of these takedowns, the company is famously protective of its brands, and recently sued Palworld maker Pocketpair for alleged patent infringement, an action that seemingly contributing to the postponement of Palworld’s release on PS5 in Japan. The company has a history of successful takedowns, forcing fan games offline and even suing the creators of emulators.
Generative AI is one of the hottest topics in the creative industries right now and a burning issue within video game development itself. Apart from ethical and copyright issues, labor unions have expressed concern about the potential for generative AI to replace jobs, and video game performers have called for increased protections against its use.
Earlier this month, EA CEO Andrew Wilson said AI is “the very core of our business” — a comment IGN subsequently explored in more detail. And Nintendo itself has commented on generative AI, outlining the pros and cons as it sees them.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
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