The woman depicted in the image has three eyes, spaghetti noodle-like hair, and a slice of yellow, melted cheese dripping down her head. Her body is a mosaic of primary-colored glass shards reminiscent of a stained glass window in a church. The image, titled “A Single Piece of American Cheese,” was created by Kent Keirsey, CEO of Invoke, using generative AI technology. This innovative creation process raised questions about the role of humans in art and ownership of AI-generated images. Keirsey’s hands-on involvement in manipulating the AI elements led to the approval of a copyright for the composite image. The U.S. Copyright Office emphasized the human authorship and creativity involved in the selection and arrangement of the AI-generated components. This case sets a precedent for copyright protection of AI-edited works, highlighting the evolving relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence in the realm of art.
