OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has signaled a shift in how the company might engage with the creative community, suggesting a potential revenue-sharing model for artists whose work influences generative AI systems like ChatGPT.
Speaking at TED 2025 on April 11, Altman addressed growing concerns from creative professionals about copyright infringement and the future of human-made art in an AI-driven world. “I think in the world of AI, there will be a new model that we figure out,” Altman said, acknowledging the sense of displacement and fear some artists feel as their styles are replicated by AI.
Altman expressed openness to building a system where artists could choose to opt in and get compensated if their name or work inspires AI-generated content. “I think it would be cool to figure out a new model where if you say, ‘I want to do it in the name of this artist,’ and they opt in, there’s a revenue model there that’s okay,” he noted.
The conversation also touched on the idea of tracking prompt data and attributing a percentage of subscription revenue based on how frequently an artist’s name or style is referenced. While details remain vague, Altman’s comments reflect a growing acknowledgment within the tech world that generative AI must find ethical and economic ways to coexist with human creativity.
His remarks come amid increasing scrutiny over how large language and image models are trained—often using data scraped from the internet, including copyrighted materials. The possibility of a fair compensation system could help soothe tensions between AI developers and the artistic community, many of whom worry their work is being used without consent or reward.
Altman also emphasized that while AI may reshape creative industries, it won’t erase them. Instead, he envisions the rise of new creative roles that offer better compensation and broader reach, empowered by AI tools rather than replaced by them.
As OpenAI explores these ideas further, artists and creators around the world will be watching closely to see whether words will translate into action—and compensation.
