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AI Made an Indian Mona Lisa - But Who Owns It?

Rashi Pandey, a student at Delhi University in India, generated buzz when she used AI to create an Indian Mona Lisa and posted the result on X. Can Pandey copyright this?

Copyright gives creators complete control over their work - just as Taylor Swift's copyright on "Shake It Off" means only she can decide how the song is used and who profits from it, whether that's streaming on Spotify, playing in TV ads, or being performed at concerts.

Now the US Copyright Office has clarified its stance on AI-generated content and copyright ownership. Here’s what you need to know:

• Human Creativity Requirement: Copyright protection requires substantial human creative input. Example: Extensively developing an AI-generated plot outline into a novel with your own characters, dialogue, and story elements qualifies for copyright.

• Pure AI Output: Works created solely by AI, with minimal human input such as basic prompts, cannot be copyrighted. Example: if you simply type "create a sci-fi cityscape" into an AI image generator and use the output as-is, you can't copyright that image.

• Human-AI Collaboration: Works that meaningfully combine human creativity with AI assistance can be copyrighted. Example: A film that uses AI for special effects while maintaining human-driven creative direction and storytelling.

Coming back to the Mona Lisa in an Indian dress:

• The original Mona Lisa is in the public domain so Pandey is free to use it.

• However, for copyright protection, Pandey must demonstrate substantial human creativity.

• It seems Pandey just prompted the AI to make a Mona Lisa in Indian attire, so the answer is no, she cannot copyright it.

Why This Matters:

The rules are pretty clear: if you use AI, make sure you add your own creative spark to protect your work. Otherwise, you might create something amazing but have no legal right to stop others from copying or profiting from it.

ChatGPT Goes to Korea

US startup OpenAI, the developer of the popular ChatGPT chatbot, has formed a strategic partnership with Kakao, one of South Korea's leading tech companies. This is big news. 😎

Kakao Is Huge In Korea

Founded in 2006, Kakao’s messaging app is used by an astounding 93% of South Korea's population, transforming from simple chat software into a "super app" that handles everything from paying bills to hailing taxis.

Think of it as WhatsApp, Uber, Venmo, and Amazon rolled into one - but with a uniquely Korean flavor that's made it indispensable to daily life in the country.

The app's prominence is so profound that "Let's KaTalk" has become as common a phrase in South Korea as "Let's Google" is globally. 😊

Inside the Powerhouse Partnership

• The collaboration was just announced in Seoul by Kakao CEO Hong Eun-taek and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

• The partnership will integrate OpenAI's advanced AI technology into Kakao's services, including KakaoTalk, and include joint development of AI products tailored for Kakao's over 50 million users.

• This partnership not only strengthens Kakao's competitive position but also reinforces South Korea's status as a global technology innovation hub.

Strategic Chess Moves in the Global AI Race

• This partnership comes at a crucial time for OpenAI, as it faces new competition from DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that recently gained attention for developing a powerful chatbot at a fraction of the cost of its US counterparts.

• Altman's Asian tour, which next includes stops in Japan and India, underscores OpenAI’s broader strategy to expand its global presence and forge partnerships in key markets.

The Beatles Reunite One Last Time Using AI

Yes, The Beatles won a Grammy this week. No, we’re not back in the 1970s.

Decades after their last release, the “Fab Four” snagged a Grammy for Best Rock Performance, all thanks to AI.

Paul McCartney (one of the last surviving Beatles) had long hoped to finish Now and Then, a rough demo John Lennon recorded in the late ‘70s. The problem? The tape was more static than song, way too muffled for ‘90s tech to salvage.

Then came AI. It isolated Lennon’s vocals with eerie precision, clearing the way for McCartney and Ringo Starr to complete the track. The result? One last Beatles hit—AI just pulled off the most unexpected reunion tour ever.

While many love seeing The Beatles back in the music industry, others feel there’s something unsettling about reviving voices from the past with AI. What do you think?