How To Use AI-Generated Images and Not Get Sued

AI is revolutionizing image creation, offering small businesses a cost-effective alternative to designers. But beware: it is also fraught with legal pitfalls.

Sydney artist Kim Leutwyler's battle with text-to-image app Stable Diffusion a year ago highlights the real risk of copyright infringement. The app, trained on millions of online images, has been accused of replicating artists' unique styles.

The only 100% safe way to use AI-generated imagery is to avoid using it for commercial purposes. Always assume copyright infringement.?

So, how can you leverage AI without facing trouble? Let's break it down.

1) Use AI For Internal Branding: This widens the scope for graphics supporting in-house presentations and documents. AI images speed up internal branding efforts, saving a lot of time.

2) For Illustrations Supporting Onsite Content:?

• If you run a blog with a sharp focus on a unique and specific topic, don’t settle for stock images that might be less relevant. Use AI images that support your copy.?
• A possible workaround to avoid copyright infringement is to get your human designer to alter any AI images you want to make public.

3) Create Image Variations For Ad Campaigns: We’re talking about times your designer does a great job on an image. AI can be used to create variations of a designer’s original image. You now have to rely less on reusing these ‘perfect’ images.

4) Let AI Adjust Licensed Images: Using unlicensed images for AI training, as demonstrated by the Getty Images lawsuit against Stability AI, is risky. You can source your images from here:

• Wikimedia Commons: Offers a vast collection of free-to-use images with various licenses. Be sure to check the specific license terms before using.
• Flickr: Many photographers on Flickr share their work under Creative Commons licenses.

5) AI vs. Human-Created Images?

Prioritize AI-generated images when:

• Speed and efficiency are crucial (e.g., large-scale image creation)
• Cost-effectiveness is a primary concern
• Personalization and customization are key benefits
• It would help if you had a high volume of visually similar images

Opt for human-created images when:

• Image quality and precision are paramount (e.g., medical, legal, or financial imagery)
• Unique artistic vision or storytelling is required
• Brand consistency is critical and requires strict control over visual elements

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