Lucy was approached via Instagram by a scout offering £1,500 to create an AI model of her face.
A 23-year-old woman has warned of the dangers of selling one’s likeness to artificial intelligence companies after signing a deal she says she did not fully understand.
Lucy was approached via Instagram by a scout offering £1,500 to create an AI model of her face. Attracted by the payment and the novelty, she signed a contract without legal advice and provided multiple video clips for the model’s development.
“I guess I also found it interesting… I thought it would be fun to try it myself,” she told the Manchester Evening News.
However, Lucy later realised she had permanently surrendered rights to her image, meaning her likeness could be used in adverts or causes without her consent. The contract also prevents her from earning money from brand endorsements in the future.
Her experience is featured in a new 20-minute documentary by filmmaker Sam Tullen, I Sold My Face to AI for £1,500, exploring the growing use of real people’s images in AI-generated content.
“With technology advancing faster than the laws surrounding it, there does need to be more awareness,” Lucy said, warning others to read contracts carefully before agreeing.