Operation HOPE—and the HOPE AI Ethics Council co-chaired by John Hope Bryant and Sam Altman—was honored to serve as a bridge between The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. (King, Inc.) and OpenAI after some users generated disrespectful depictions of Dr. King.

At King, Inc.’s request, OpenAI has paused Sora generations depicting Dr. King while it strengthens guardrails for historical figures. We appreciate Dr. Bernice A. King’s outreach on behalf of King, Inc., and OpenAI’s willingness to engage.

This is precisely what the HOPE AI Ethics Council was built to do: facilitate respectful, solution-oriented dialogue so communities, families, and innovators can address real harms and co-design practical safeguards. We will continue to make space for conversations where dignity, consent, and context guide product choices.

Media: media@operationhope.org

Here’s the OpenAI statement for referral: https://x.com/openainewsroom/status/1979005850166648933?s=46