OpenAI promised a 'Media Manager' tool in 2024 to allow creators and content owners to opt out of AI training, but the company has failed to deliver on this commitment as we enter 2025.

The tool was announced in May 2024 as a response to criticism over OpenAI's practice of using internet content for AI training. It was meant to be a groundbreaking solution that would identify copyrighted text, images, audio, and video while respecting creator preferences.

Recent investigations by TechCrunch revealed that the Media Manager project has been effectively abandoned. A former OpenAI employee stated, "I don't think it was a priority. To be honest, I don't remember anyone working on it." Additionally, Fred von Lohmann, who was leading the project, has left his full-time position and now serves only as a part-time consultant.

The lack of progress on Media Manager is particularly concerning given OpenAI's ongoing challenges with copyright issues. Their latest Sora model can generate content featuring copyrighted characters and compositions, as it's trained on billions of web pages containing protected material.

This situation has led to multiple class action lawsuits from artists, writers, news organizations, and YouTubers who claim unauthorized use of their work. Since the initial announcement in May 2024, OpenAI has maintained complete silence regarding the Media Manager tool, with no public updates or mentions of its development status.

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