A 23-year-old woman who sold the rights to her face to an artificial intelligence company for £1,500 has spoken of her regret, warning others to think carefully before signing similar contracts. Lucy, whose identity has been concealed, received a direct message from an AI start-up in September last year, offering to pay for the use of her likeness to create an AI-generated model.
Initially attracted by what seemed like an easy way to make money, Lucy signed a lengthy contract without fully understanding the terms. She later realised she had little control over how her face would be used in paid advertisements for the rest of her life. 'I really regret rushing my decision and should have sought legal advice before signing that contract,' she told the Mirror.
As part of the deal, Lucy submitted multiple video recordings to train the AI model. The £1,500 payment quickly disappeared, though she invested some into her freelance makeup business. The documentary 'The AI Face Trade', produced by Sam Tullen and presented by Tegan Marlow, explores how AI models are replacing human content creators in the user-generated content industry.
Producer Sam Tullen said Lucy's case is 'just the tip of the iceberg' and raises urgent ethical questions about ownership of likeness and legal protections in a rapidly evolving industry. The documentary airs on YouTube tonight.
