The Downfall of Stability.ai: SD3 Banned and Developer Exodus

In the video ‘The Downfall of Stability.ai – SD3 Banned on Civit’ by Olivio Sarikas, the presenter discusses the current troubles facing Stability.ai and the broader implications for the AI landscape. Stability.ai’s latest model, SD3, was banned on Civit.ai due to legal concerns, and many core developers have left the company. The video highlights the growing tension between the open-source community and corporate interests, as companies sneak in restrictive licensing terms and attempt to capitalize on open-source innovations without proper credit. Stability.ai, founded by Emad Mostaque, initially gained attention with its collaboration with German universities on the latent diffusion research project. Despite early success and significant investment, the company has struggled with subsequent model releases, facing community rejection and internal turmoil. The video also touches on the broader AI landscape, emphasizing the need for realistic expectations and balanced regulation. Olivio calls for a public, accessible AI space free from corporate control, advocating for AI to be treated like the internet, with open access but regulated content. The video concludes with a reflection on the current state of AI, acknowledging its imperfections but also its significant advancements in efficiency and creativity.