Australian artists accuse popular AI imaging app of stealing content, call for stricter copyright laws

Australian artists say Lensa, the app that uses artificial intelligence to generate self-portraits, is stealing their content and are calling for stricter copyright laws that keep up with AI-generated art.

Over the past month, the AI image generator has trended on TikTok and Instagram, with users paying to turn photos of themselves into stylised art portraits.

Kim Leutwyler, a Sydney-based artist and Archibald finalist, said the app was replicating distinct styles.

Once the training is finished, AI does not refer to the original images but applies what it has learned about the styles to the new image, they said.

But some artists are embracing the new technology and using it to create work.

Releasing the tattoo sheet on Sunday, the artist said the allure was that the images were often poor quality, or have a sinister edge.