The AI image generator company BRIA, supported by Getty Images, has secured $24 million in Series A funding, with contributions from leading advertising firm Publicis Groupe. Based in Israel, BRIA, which utilizes over a billion licensed images for its technology, plans to use the funding to expand its operations worldwide and develop text-to-video generation features.
This investment marks BRIA as a pioneering example in the AI sector of how licensing agreements can address the contentious issue of using copyrighted material in training generative AI models. The approach of licensing, favored by music producers, artists, and other copyright holders, contrasts with the methods of major AI firms that have relied on freely available internet content.
By exclusively using licensed content, BRIA mitigates the risk of including trademarked or sensitive content in its outputs, making it appealing to clients in advertising, marketing, and media sectors, including Publicis. CEO Yair Adato emphasized the possibility of a responsible yet profitable method in an interview with Reuters.
Getty Images has been a notable supporter of BRIA since 2022, playing a significant role in the ongoing debate over the use of training data. BRIA’s AI image generator technology is powered by images from 18 stock image providers, including Getty Images, and it operates on a revenue-sharing model with these companies, charging users for platform access.
The company’s unique approach ensures transparency by revealing the source images that contribute to each generated image, akin to a Spotify model for AI, ensuring content creators are compensated. This controlled training process also prevents the creation of misleading images that could negatively impact brands or influence elections. For example, BRIA’s system cannot produce an image of U.S. President Joe Biden, as it has not been trained with his likeness, according to Adato.
