What Is (AI) Glaze? (glaze.cs.uchicago.edu)

A new AI tool called Glaze has been introduced to combat the detrimental effects of style mimicry on artists caused by generative models like MidJourney and Stable Diffusion. These diffusion models often rely on large datasets filled with copyrighted artworks, leading to unauthorized imitations that can harm artists' income, brands, and identity. Glaze uses advanced machine learning techniques to subtly alter paintings such that they appear unchanged to the human eye but are interpreted as entirely different styles by AI models. This innovative approach aims to protect artists from having their work duplicated without consent or compensation. The significance of Glaze lies in its potential to empower artists in an era where generative AI technology frequently infringes upon their creative rights. By offering a robust protective measure against future AI-generated mimics, Glaze takes an important step towards artist-centric safeguarding. While it is not a foolproof solution—facing possible vulnerabilities to evolving AI techniques—the tool has been designed with adaptability in mind. The recent launch of WebGlaze allows artists to access the tool on various devices, enhancing accessibility. As the AI/ML community grapples with the ethical implications of generative technologies, innovations like Glaze underscore the importance of developing protective tools that uphold artists' rights and ensure the sustainability of artistic careers in the digital age.