Expect to not see any stock images produced by DALL-E or other AI image creation techniques. The Verge received a statement from Getty Images CEO Craig Peters stating that his company has prohibited AI-generated art due to the possibility of copyright conflicts. The CEO claimed that this will help clients reduce the risk to their funds and reputations because there are “unaddressed rights issues” with the technology.

Peters omitted to mention whether Getty had previously run into legal issues with AI-generated content. He stated that the quantity of that information on the site was “very restricted.” In order to develop filters for content produced by AI, the corporation is working with the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity. Users are urged to report any content that manages to get through the filters. Competitors like Shutterstock are currently evaluating at least some imagery. The action is not unexpected. While it’s not technically illegal to use AI to create an image, generators frequently use photos that might be protected by copyright. Legal implications may result from Getty and its clients profiting illegally from art. Governments may also pass rules and legislation that restrict the usage of the technology.

The effectiveness of the ban in actual use is uncertain. Currently, it’s not difficult to locate AI-generated images on Getty, as The Verge points out. We don’t expect the corporation to change course until it discovers AI platforms that are certain to produce only fully lawful images.