Fury Explodes at Short Films Using AI to Make Erotica of Women From the 1970s

A collection of AI-generated short films, titled *Sh(AI)ved*, premiered in Cannes this week outside the official Cannes Film Festival. The project, created by the Norwegian company Multiformat and distributed by Cultpix, used generative AI to transform photos from a 1976 erotic magazine into moving images with sound and dialogue. Criticism erupted on social media, with users condemning the project for exploiting the likenesses of real women—some likely deceased—without consent. Commentators called the use of AI to create nonconsensual pornographic content a violation of ethical boundaries, drawing parallels to recent controversies like Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot being used to generate explicit images of women and children. Cultpix CEO Rickard Gramfors defended the project as an experiment exploring evolving attitudes toward vintage adult imagery. He argued that the women in the original photos had consented decades ago, framing the AI additions as merely enhancing motion and sound. However, critics dismissed this reasoning, pointing out that modern consent standards were ignored and that the project failed to address ethical concerns. The controversy intensified when Cultpix’s official X account engaged directly with critics, defending the project as an artistic experiment. One post claimed that the original performers had consented to their images being used, while another framed the AI enhancements as a neutral addition to existing content. The backlash highlights broader ethical debates surrounding AI-generated media, particularly when real people’s likenesses are used without consent. While Cultpix frames the project as a discussion starter, many argue it instead exemplifies the risks of unchecked AI applications in creative industries.