>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

PARIS SCHUTZ IS FIVE.

WILL GET THEM SHORTLY.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

>>> IS AMERICA'S FAVORITE RIFLE CLUB .

>> HUNDREDS OF GUNS ARE BANNED IN ILLINOIS , WITH ONES MADE THE LIST.

>> MIDWESTERN IS TRYING TO GIVE US A HAMBURGER AND PIZZA WITH STEAK.

>>> FROM NORTHWESTERN, NEIGHBORS SAY THEY AREN'T HAPPY WITH THE NEW STADIUM PROPOSAL.

HOW SOME SAY COMPUTER-GENERATED ART LIKE THIS REPRESENTS AN END POTENTIAL THREAT TO ACTUAL ARTISTS.

>> HE COULD MAKE YOU FEEL A CERTAIN WAY, YET NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE HE'S GOING AND WHAT HE MEANS.

>>> AND A NONTRADITIONAL TRIBUTE TO A MUSICAL ICON IN A GENRE YOU MAY NOT EXPECT.

>>> AND BRANDIS, AS YOU MENTIONED, I'M IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN EVANSTON TONIGHT.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS ARE FULL STEAM AHEAD ON THE PLAN TO TEAR DOWN RYAN FIELD RIGHT BEHIND ME AND REPLACE IT WITH A STATE-OF-THE-ART NEW STADIUM, BUT SOME RESIDENTS HERE SAY, WHOA, NOT SO FAST, SO WE'LL GET BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE AND TELL YOU WHERE THE PROJECTS GOES FROM HERE FROM A VERY SNOWY EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, BUT FIRST WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, PARIS, WE'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT.

>>> NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

THE FATHER OF THE ALLEGED HIGHLAND PARK SHOULD'VE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TODAY.

HE SAID HE RECKLESSLY AIDED HIS SON AND OBTAINING A FIREARM.

58-YEAR-OLD ROBERT TRINITY JR. FACES SEVEN COUNTS OF FELONY RECKLESS CONDUCT, ONE FOR EACH OF THE FILE IMPORT VICTIMS.

CRIMO SIGNED HIS APPLICATION FOR AVOID CARD IN DECEMBER 2019, WHEN THE YOUNGER CRIMO WAS ONLY 19 YEARS OLD AND COULD NOT LEGALLY GET A CAR WITHOUT HIS FATHER'S SIGNATURE.

LAKE COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY ERIC RINEHART CALLS THAT RECKLESS, BECAUSE HE KNEW HIS SON HAD PREVIOUSLY ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AND THREATENED FAMILY MEMBERS ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN 2019.

>>> A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS DENIED R. KELLY'S REQUEST FOR A NEW TRIAL, DESPITE HIS ATTORNEYS MAKING THE REQUEST MULTIPLE TIMES.

THE 56-YEAR-OLD SINGER WAS CONVICTED BY A JURY LAST YEAR ON CHARGES THAT HE SEXUALLY ABUSED HIS THEN 14-YEAR-OLD GODDAUGHTER AND OTHER MINORS IN THE LATE 90s AND EARLY 2000'S.

R. KELLY ATTORNEYS HAVE ARGUED THAT HIS GODDAUGHTER LIED IN HER TESTIMONY IN THE TRIAL, BUT KELLY IS SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED IN THIS CASE NEXT WEEK HE'S ALREADY BEEN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON AFTER A FEDERAL TRIAL IN NEW YORK CONVICTED HIM OF TRAFFICKING AND RACKETEERING.

>>> AND PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITIES AFTER BEING IN PRISON MAY FIND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT COMING TO THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

>> THIS NEW POLICY SAYS THAT THERE'S A POPULATION OF UNTAPPED POTENTIAL.

THEY ARE QUALIFIED WITH THE CONVICTION , AND WE, AS A CITY, SHOULD MAKE SHORT THAT THEY ARE AFFORDED OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR LIVES JUST LIKE ANY OTHER RESIDENT OF THE CITY.

>> THE POLICY IS THE CITY'S BACKGROUND CHECK POLICY, WHICH PROHIBITS THE CITY FROM CONSIDERING CERTAIN PARTS OF A PERSON'S CRIMINAL BACKGROUND DURING THE HIRING PROCESS , SUCH AS A CONVICTION MORE THAN FIVE YEARS OLD OR AN ARREST THAT DID NOT LEAD TO A CONVICTION.

CITY IS NOW ALSO TAKING PROPOSALS FOR A $6.6 MILLION PROGRAM TO SUPPORT RETURNING RESIDENTS WITH A PAID WORKSPACE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY AND 12 MONTH RENT SUBSIDY.

>>> COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, EVANSTON COMMUNITY MEMBERS RESPOND TO NORTHWESTERN'S STADIUM PROPOSAL.

PARIS SCHUTZ WITH THAT STORY RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE GYM AND CAME MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> SOME RESIDENTS OF EVANSTON ARE PLANNING TO TRY NORTHWESTERN'S BIG PLANS TO REBUILD CENTURY-OLD RYAN FIELD.

THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THE NEW STADIUM WILL BE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS THIS MAY HAVE THE OPTION FOR CONCERTS AND OTHER EVENTS.

HE PARIS SCHUTZ HAS BEEN REPORTING IN EVANSTON THIS WEEK AS PART OF OUR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THEORIES.

PARIS JOINS US NOW.

PARIS?

RELAX NO EVERYWHERE ACROSS CHICAGO, BRANDIS.

YEAH, A COALITION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS IS PLANNING TO GET TOGETHER THIS SUNDAY TO AIR THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS NEW PLAN , AND IF YOU WALK ACROSS THE STREET OF EVANSTON, WHEN YOU CAN SEE THEM, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S NOT SNOWING, YOU WON'T FIND A MORE POLARIZING ISSUE.

THERE ARE SIGNS IN PEOPLE'S YARDS PRO AND AGAINST THIS MEGA PLAN TO TEAR DOWN THE OLD STADIUM BEHIND ME AND REPLACE IT WITH A BRAND-NEW ONE.

SOME THRILLED AT THE POTENTIAL, OTHERS NOT SO MUCH.

PERRY L DAVIS LIVES LESS THAN TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM RYAN FIELD, BUT SHE SAYS SHE'S LEAVING TOWN IF THE NEW STADIUM BECOMES REALITY.

>> IF THEY DO HAVE THE STADIUM, AND THEY START USING IT FOR CONCERTS, I PLAN TO MOVE.

IT'S NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR.

>> Reporter: THE SCHOOL GOT A $480 MILLION GIFT FROM THE RYAN FAMILY.

A BIG CHUNK OF THAT FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FOOTBALL STADIUM.

NORTHWESTERN'S SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS SIZE THE CURRENT STADIUM WAS BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900S AND IS SORELY IN NEED OF A REVAMP.

>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCIES THAT'S WRONG WITH THE STADIUM, AND WE JUST NEED TO BRING IT INTO THE 21st CENTURY.

>> Reporter: THE UNIVERSITY SAYS THE PROPOSAL FEATURES MORE ACCESSIBILITY, PUBLIC GREEN SPACE, AND 12,000 RECEIPTS TO REDUCE CONGESTION.

BUT THE REDESIGN ISN'T THE ISSUE FOR MANY RESIDENTS.

IT'S THE ADDED ACTIVITY THEY BELIEVE IT WILL BRING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY APPLIED TO CHANGE ZONING TO ALLOW FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LECTURES , SPEAKERS, MUSIC FESTIVALS, AND OTHER SOCIAL EVENTS FOR UP TO 10,000 PEOPLE.

TO PERRY L DAVIS, WHO VOLUNTEERS WITH THE MOST LIVABLE CITY ASSOCIATION, THAT MEANS MORE FOOT TRAFFIC AND A MORE UNPREDICTABLE CROWD THAN THE USUAL NORTHWESTERN FANS.

>> NORTHWESTERN IS TRYING TO GIVE US A HAMBURGER AND PIZZA .

>> Reporter: GARRETT CARB IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EVAN AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

HE SEES THE ADDED EVENTS AS A GOOD DEAL FOR EVANSTON'S BUSINESSES , WHO RELY ON THE HANDFUL OF WILDCAT HOME GAMES.

>> Reporter: BUSINESSES ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR , YOU KNOW, SEEING THE TRAFFIC , BRINGING AUDIENCES, BUT ALSO THE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> Reporter: THE FIELD IS A FAN FAVORITE.

MUSTARD'S LAST STAND, SERVING HOTDOGS AND MART SINCE THE 1960S.

MANAGER SAMUEL LACEY AT SAYS THE PROJECT WILL BE A BOON FOR SALES OF ITEMS LIKE THE FAMOUS WILDCAT BURGER, A HALF POUND OF GROUND BEEF WITH CHEDDAR CHEESE, GRILLED ONIONS, BARBECUE SAUCE , AND JORDAN ERA PEPPERS.

>> NORMALLY, EVERYBODY ALWAYS COMES LOOKING FOR MUSTARD ON EVERY GAME, EVERY EVENT THAT NORTHWESTERN HAS.

IT'LL MAKE OUR BUSINESS SECURE.

>> Reporter: THE SCHOOL PRODUCED AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY THAT CONCLUDES THE NEW STADIUM WILL GENERATE OVER $1 BILLION IN COOK AND LAKE COUNTIES COMBINED.

A SENIOR AT NORTHWESTERN WITH THE GROUP STUDENTS ORGANIZING FOR LABOR RIGHTS IS ASKING FOR AN INDEPENDENT ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY.

HER GROUP IS ALSO HOPING THE UNIVERSITY HIRES A DIVERSE WORKFORCE FOR CONSTRUCTION AND FOR UNION NEUTRALITY.

>> NORTHWESTERN HAS AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES, AND IT'S TIME FOR IT TO DO THE RIGHT THING WITH THOSE RESOURCES AND RE-PAYBACK THE COMMUNITY THAT'S GIVEN IT SO MUCH BY LETTING US BE HERE TAX-FREE.

>> Reporter: DAVE DAVIS SAYS THE SCHOOL IS STILL OPEN TO HEARING COMMUNITY CONCERNS .

IT HAS ALREADY MADE CHANGES TO THE PLAN, LIKE DECREASING THE NUMBER OF SEATS, AND AN UNDERGROUND LOADING DOCK TO LESSEN TRAFFIC.

>> IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO JUST NOTE THAT THIS LEVEL OF INVESTMENT, THIS MAGNITUDE OF INVESTMENT REQUIRES US TO DESIGN I FACILITY THAT WILL BE BOTH ENVIRONMENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE.

AND WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO THAT WITH SEVEN FOOTBALL GAMES PER YEAR.

>> Reporter: AND, BRANDIS, THAT COALITION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS PLANS TO MEET AT 3:00 P.M. AT THE FLEETWOOD CENTER HERE IN EVANSTON TO AIR OUT SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS.

BEFORE WE GO, WE SHOULD UPDATE ON ANOTHER STORY .

THAT TREE THAT FELL ON NORTHWESTERN'S MAIN CAMPUS OFF OF SHERIDAN, FOUR PEOPLE WERE INJURED, THREE WERE TREATED FOR SERIOUS INJURIES AT THE HOSPITAL.

WE HAVE ALL DETAILS ON THAT ON OUR WEBSITE, WTTW.COM, AS WELL AS FULL DETAILS ON THIS STORY ABOUT THE REBUILDING OF RYAN FIELD.

AND NOW, WE TOSS IT BACK TO YOU IN THAT WARM STUDIO.

>> OF COURSE, PARIS.

FIND SOMEPLACE WARM YOURSELF.

THANK YOU.

>>> GUNS CLASSIFIED BY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AS ASSAULT WEAPONS HAVE BEEN BANNED SINCE JANUARY 11th, MEANING THAT HUNDREDS, PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF GUNS CAN NO LONGER BE LEGALLY SOLD IN ILLINOIS.

THOSE WHO ALREADY OWN GUNS AND AMMUNITION COVERED BY THE BAND CAN KEEP HIM, BUT THEY MUST REGISTER WITH THE STATE.

AMANDA EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GUNS COVERED BY THE LAW AND THOSE THAT ARE STILL LEGAL >> Reporter: IT WAS A SUNNY SUMMER MORNING, PERFECT FOR THE POST-COVID RETURN OF HIGHLAND PARK'S FOURTH OF JULY PARADE, UNTIL 10:14 A.M. >> LITERALLY COME OUT OF THIS CLEAR BLUE SKY, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE I WOULD DESCRIBE AS MANY FIRECRACKERS GOING OFF.

>> Reporter: IT WASN'T FIRECRACKERS, IT WAS HAILING BULLETS.

MONTHS LATER, LAUREN BENNETT TESTIFIED BEFORE ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS ABOUT HOW IT FELT AS IF SHE WAS SHOT IN HER HIP AND UPPER BACK.

HOW SHE FEARED FOR HER LIFE AND THAT OF HER YOUNG SONS.

>> IMAGINE A HOT, METAL, DART LIKE PROJECTILE TEARING THROUGH YOUR BODY AT SUPERSONIC SPEEDS, AND LIKELY YOU'LL GRAB WHATEVER PART OF YOUR BODY WAS HIT, BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.

ONLY TO FEEL THAT EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF BLOOD DRAINING OUT OF YOU AND SOAKING EVERYTHING.

>> Reporter: SALES OF THE TYPE OF AR 15 STYLE GUNS USED IN THE FOURTH OF JULY ATTACK, WHICH LEFT SEVEN DEAD, ARE NOW BANNED IN ILLINOIS, AS ARE NEARLY 200 OTHER GUNS CLASSIFIED BY A NEW STATE LAW AS ASSAULT WEAPONS .

>> ILLINOIS NOW OFFICIALLY PROHIBITS THE SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THESE MASS KILLING MACHINES .

>> Reporter: EXCEPT MANY GUN OWNERS AND SELLERS SAY THE BAND'S GUNS ARE NOT MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS OF WAR.

DAN ELDRIDGE IS PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEES OF ILLINOIS.

THE GUN DEALERS GROUP IS SUING IN FEDERAL COURT TO STRIKE DOWN THE LAW.

ELDRIDGE OWNS SHOOTER SUPPLIES AND INDOOR GUN RANGE IN DES PLAINES, AND HAD TO PULL 15% TO 20% OF HIS INVENTORY OFF THE SHELVES AS SOON AS GOVERNOR PRITZKER SIGNED THE LAW IN EARLY JANUARY.

LIKE AR 15 STYLE RIFLES.

>> IT'S AMERICA'S FAVORITE RIFLE PLATFORM, EDITS, IT IS THAT BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLY ADAPTABLE TO ALL SHAPES AND SIZES OF PEOPLE, EASILY ACCESSORIZED, IT'S LEFT ON STANDARD, AVAILABLE AT A WIDE VARIETY OF PRICE POINTS WITH FEATURES.

IT, IT REALLY IS A, A MODERN SPORTING RIFLE.

>> YOU JUST DESCRIBED ENDED AR 15 IS A MODERN SPORTING RIFLE.

ADVOCATES OF THIS BAND SAY NO, THAT'S AN ASSAULT WEAPON.

>> THE TERM ITSELF, ASSAULT WEAPON, IS A MADE UP TERM BY THE GUN-CONTROL PEOPLE IN THE LATE '80S TRYING TO CONFLATE SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES WITH MACHINE GUNS.

IT'S A MADE UP TERM THAT HAS ABSOLUTELY NO MEETING.

>> Reporter: ELDRIDGE SAYS AR PATTERN GUNS ARE POPULAR, UBIQUITOUS , WITH AN ESTIMATED 1 MILLION TO 2 MILLION LEGALLY OWNED BY ILLINOIS RESIDENTS.

AS THE LAWSUIT PUT IT, IF THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS MEANS ANYTHING, IT MEANS THAT THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT BAN THE MOST POPULAR FIREARM IN THE COUNTRY, AN ARGUMENT ELDRIDGE SAYS IS BACKED BY U.S. SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT.

BUT WHICH COOK COUNTY SHERIFF TOM DART SAYS MAKES NO COMMON SENSE, CONSIDERING AK AND THEY ARE STYLE GUNS ARE POPULAR WITH THE WRONG CROWD, WHO HE CALLS THE BAD GUYS.

>> BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW IS JUST SOME OF THE WEAPONS WE'VE GOTTEN RECENTLY.

THIS WAS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

SO, LIKE, 16 YEARS AGO, WHEN I STARTED, THIS WAS NOT NORMAL.

WE WOULDN'T GET THESE TYPE OF WEAPONS WITH THIS TYPE OF LETHALITY.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS, NOW, IT'S THE NORM.

DARTS TEAM GAVE US A DEMONSTRATION OF AN AR SEMI AUTOMATIC RIFLE, SO-CALLED BECAUSE ROUNDS AUTOMATICALLY RELOAD, BUT THE TRIGGER MUST BE MANUALLY PULLED EACH TIME TO FIRE THE BULLET.

A CASE DIALOGUE GOD ALSO NOW BANNED ARE SIMILAR.

IN THIS DEMO, THE SHOOTER MANUALLY PULLED THE TRIGGER AS FAST AS HE SAFELY CAN.

COMPARE THAT WITH THE SPEED A GLOCK FIRES WHEN OUTFITTED WITH WHAT'S CALLED A SWITCH.

IT'S LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH.

WITH A QUICK FLICK OF THE SWITCH, A SEMI AUTOMATIC GUN BECOMES AUTOMATIC.

THE GUN FIRES AS LONG AS THE TRIGGER IS PULLED.

SWITCHES WERE ALREADY FEDERALLY ILLEGAL, BUT THEY'RE NOW ALSO COVERED UNDER THE NEW STATE STATUTE.

THE POPULAR GLOCK STYLE HANDGUN IS STILL LEGAL UNDER ILLINOIS'S NEW LAW, BUT ISN'T, HOWEVER, MAGAZINES THAT HOLD ANYTHING OVER 15 ROUNDS, LIKE THIS , WHICH HAD THE CAPACITY TO FIRE 30 BULLETS.

ELDRIDGE ISN'T FIGHTING ABOUT THE SWITCH BAND, THOUGH HE SAYS THE STATE PROVISION .

AUTOMATIC OR MACHINE GUNS WERE ALREADY AGAINST THE LAW IN ILLINOIS , BUT ELDRIDGE SAYS LAWMAKERS OVERSTEPPED WITH THE NEW LAW.

I ASKED HIM, JUST BECAUSE THESE GUNS AND FEATURES ARE POPULAR, IF THEY'RE USED IN MASS MURDERS, IS IT REASONABLE TO USE THE LAW TO PREVENT THE PROLIFERATION?

>> PEOPLE WHO MAKE AN ARGUMENT, OR, AGAIN, CONFLATING LAWFUL USE AND UNLAWFUL USE.

IT'S UNLAWFUL TO MURDER PEOPLE.

WHETHER YOU DO IT WITH A STEAK KNIFE OR A RIFLE OR A HANDGUN.

YEAH, WILL THE BAD GUYS STILL BE ABLE TO GET THEIR HANDS ON IT?

PROBABLY, BUT INSTEAD OF GETTING IT IN TWO DAYS, MAYBE NOW IT'LL TAKE TWO WEEKS.

NOW, INSTEAD OF GOING FOR $300, $400 IN THE STREETS, IT'S $1000, BECAUSE THEY'RE HARDER TO FIND.

>> Reporter: DART SAYS THE LAW'S DRAFTERS WERE METICULOUS, SURGICAL, WITH WHAT GUNS AND FEATURES THEY INCLUDED.

IT'S A MOVING TARGET.

THE LAW ALLOWS STATE POLICE TO ADD MORE GUNS TO KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING.

>> YOU TRY TO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW WHEN WE PULL SOMEONE OVER, YOU KNOW, LAST NIGHT, WE FOUND A CAR WITH THREE OF THESE.

WHEN THEY HAVE EXTENDED MAGAZINES, YOU TRY AND TELL ME THAT'S FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION?

COME ON.

LET'S BE REAL HERE.

LET'S STOP PLAYING GAMES.

>> Reporter: DART SAYS HE WISHES THE LAW WENT FURTHER BY INCLUDING MORE SEVERE PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE WHO CARRY EXTENDED MAGAZINES THAT HE SAYS ARE CLEARLY MEANT FOR THE BATTLEFIELD, NOT FOR SELF-DEFENSE.

FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M AMANDA.

>> ILLINOIS LAW DOESN'T JUST OUTLAW TYPES OF GUNS AND LIMIT MAGAZINE SIZE.

IT ALSO BANS A SLEW OF GUN FEATURES, INCLUDING THREADED BARRELS AND TELESCOPING STOCKS.

ELDRIDGE SAYS MOST OF THESE FEATURES ACTUALLY MAKE THEM SAFER , BECAUSE IT MAKES IT EASIER TO USE, HOLD, AND CONTROL.

THAT'S ALSO PART OF THE FIREARMS DEALERS LAWSUIT.

BACK WITH MORE RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> POWERFUL AI MODELS CAPABLE OF CONVINCINGLY COPYING THE STYLE OF VIRTUALLY ANY ARTIST TO PRODUCE ORIGINAL IMAGES HAS SWEPT THE INTERNET.

FOR EXAMPLE, HERE ARE SOME MAGIC AVATARS THAT I GENERATED WITH SOME SELFIES.

BUT ARTISTS WORK CAN NOW BE EASILY MIMICKED SADIE SAY I GENERATED IMAGES REPRESENT AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT .

NOW, A TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO IS HELPING ARTISTS FIGHT BACK AND PROTECT THEIR WORK.

JOINING US IS A PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO , WHERE HIS RESEARCH INTERESTS INCLUDE SOCIAL NETWORKS, SECURITY, AND PRIVACY ISSUES THAT COME WITH THEM.

WELCOME BACK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> HELLO.

>> SO WHAT, WHY HAVE THESE KINDS OF AI MODELS BECOME SUCH AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT FOR ACTUAL HUMAN ARTISTS?

>> YEAH, IT'S AMAZING.

THESE AI MODELS HAVE REALLY GROWN TREMENDOUSLY IN JUST A MATTER OF MONTHS, AND THEY ARE ABLE, NOW, TO NOT ONLY GENERATE ORIGINAL, SORT OF, ILLUSTRATIONS, BUT ALSO, NOW, TO BE ABLE TO MIMIC ANY SPECIFIC ARTIST GIVEN JUST A FEW SAMPLES OF THEIR WORK.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE MODEL TAKE SAMPLES FROM ANY ARTIST THAT YOU ENJOY , AND AFTER TRAINING A LITTLE BIT MORE, THAT MODEL WILL BE ABLE TO SIMULATE AND PRODUCE ORIGINAL PIECES OF ART OF WHATEVER SUBJECT MATTER YOU LIKE, YOU KNOW, MIMICKING THE STYLE OF THAT ARTIST THAT IT'S BEEN TRAINED ON.

SO, YEAH, IT'S A BIG DEAL, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE ARTISTS HAVE TRAINED AND, YOU KNOW, WORKED DECADES TO BE WHERE THEY ARE , DEVELOP THAT PERSONAL STYLE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, TO SEE THAT PARTICULAR STYLE BE REPLICATED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS BY AN AI MODEL WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, CREDIT, WITHOUT PAYMENT, OR COMPENSATION.

>> AT WHAT POINT DID YOU COME TO REALIZE THAT THIS WAS BECOMING SUCH A PROBLEM THAT IT PROMPTED YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, AT LEAST FOR NOW?

>> IT'S VERY INTERESTING, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE HAD DONE SOME WORK ON PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS FROM MACHINE LEARNING RECOGNITION MODELS, AND SO LAST YEAR, LAST SUMMER, WE STARTED GETTING A COUPLE EMAILS ON A MAILING LIST WE SET UP FOR USERS, AND A COUPLE OF THEM WERE ASKING ABOUT WHETHER WE COULD USE OUR TOOL ON ART, FOR ARTISTS.

WE WERE ACTUALLY QUITE CONFUSED AT THE MOMENT , IT TOOK US, I THINK, A COUPLE MONTHS FOR THE NEWS TO HIT ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHER MODELS BEFORE WE REALIZE WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT.

AND SO WE WENT BACK TO THEM AND STARTED TALKING TO THE ARTISTS, GOT INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE TOWN HALLS, AND REALLY HEARD, FIRST-HAND, DOUBLE IMPACT THAT THESE MODELS WERE HAVING ON THEIR LIVES, AND THAT'S WHEN WE DECIDED WE NEEDED TO ACT.

>> SO LET'S ILLUSTRATE THE THREAT TO ARTISTS.

WE WANTED TO SHOW THE WORK OF CARLO ORTIZ , WHO HAS WORKED WITH YOU ON THIS.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO SHOW IT.

THE FIRST SET OF IMAGES WE'RE GOING TO SHOW COMEDIES OR ORTIZ IS ORIGINAL WORK.

SO WE'RE GETTING A LOOK AT THAT RIGHT NOW.

ART BY CARLO ORTIZ.

SO THESE NEXT THREE IMAGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW, THEY WERE CREATED BY AN AI MODEL THAT IS TRYING TO MIMIC ORTIZ'S STYLE , AND VIEWERS CAN KIND OF SEE THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES THERE.

OKAY, SO NOW, THIS NEXT SET OF IMAGES, THE RAI ATTEMPTS TO COPY ORTIZ, BUT THIS TIME, THE WORK HAS BEEN PROTECTED BY YOUR GLAZE OUT.

AND THE END PRODUCT, WELL, IT ENDS UP LOOKING LIKE BAD VAN GOGH.

WITHOUT GETTING TOO TECHNICAL ON US, HOW DOES THE APP HELP PROTECT ARTIST'S WORK ?

IT DOES SOMETHING WITH CHANGING THE WAY YOUR APP IS DISCERNIBLE TO THE HUMAN EYE.

HOW DOES THAT CONFUSE THE AI MODEL?

>> RIGHT.

THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL DISCREPANCY BETWEEN HOW MACHINE LEARNING VIEWS IMAGES AND HOW WE VIEW IMAGES.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPLOITING.

BASICALLY, MACHINE LEARNING , IF YOU THINK OF IT, THEY SEE IT AS DIFFERENT BUT DIMENSIONS THAT HOW WE SEE IT.

SO THINK OF IT, LIKE, ULTRAVIOLET.

CERTAIN SIGNALS THAT WE DON'T PICK UP BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF OUR SENSES.

MACHINE LEARNING MODELS SEE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SIDE TO THESE IMAGES.

WHAT WE DO IS WE DECIPHER THAT.

WE BASICALLY BASE IT ON THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO.

WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR USE OF STYLE IS, AND THEN WE WORK WITH THAT IN ORDER TO BASICALLY MANIPULATE AND PUSH THESE PIECES OF ART ALONG THAT DIMENSION SIGNIFICANTLY, SO THAT IT REALLY DISTORTS WHAT THE MODEL SEES, BUT IN THE REAL WORLD TERMS , IN VISUAL TERMS FOR US, IT CHANGES ACTUALLY VERY LITTLE.

>> SO YOUR APP IS PROVIDING A TECHNOLOGICAL FIX, WE'RE ALSO SEEING SOME LAWSUITS TARGETING THE COMPANIES CREATING THESE AI MODELS .

THE APP WAS SUED THIS WEEK BY ILLINOIS FOR VIOLATING STATE BIOMETRIC INFORMATION AND PRIVACY ACT.

DO YOU THINK THAT, ULTIMATELY, IT'S GOING TO BE LEGISLATION THAT IS GOING TO BE NEEDED IS A PERMANENT FIX TO REIN IN THESE COMPANIES?

>> I THINK IT HAS TO BE.

I THINK IT REALLY HAS TO BE.

SOME OF THESE TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS, LIKE OUR APP, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS.

IT'S REALLY MEANT TO RAISE THE BAR FOR, YOU KNOW, HOME USERS CANNOT JUST CLICK A BUTTON AND BASICALLY REPLACE A PARTICULAR ARTIST WHO'S BEEN TRAINING FOR DECADES.

>> WE ALL KNOW THE TECHNOLOGY WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, A JAZZY TRIBUTE TO A MUSICAL ICON.

STAY WITH US.

THERE >>> ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSICIANS OF THE 20th CENTURY IS BEING HONORED IN A NEW TRIBUTE ALBUM WITH A JAZZY TWIST.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT INTRODUCES US TO THE BLUE PROJECT.

>> >> Reporter: A VOCALIST ARE COMBINING THEIR SKILLS IN A HARMONIC FUSION WITH SONGS BY DAVID BOWIE THAT FEATURED JAZZY EDITIONS.

>> GIGANTIC ICON OF THE 20th CENTURY.

THESE ARE THE MORE POPULAR SONGS FOR THE FABRIC OF THE LAST 50, 60 YEARS.

>> >> HE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL A CERTAIN WAY, YET NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE IT'S GOING AND WHAT HE MEANS.

>> >> Reporter: JIM COLORADO WAS THE METROPOLITAN ARRANGED SOME OF THE SONGS ON THEIR NEW ALBUM.

NOW, HE SAYS A LYRICAL INTERPRETATION OF BOWIE'S MUSIC INFORMED THEIR MUSICAL ADJUSTMENTS.

>> >> VERY FEW OF HIS SONGS , YOU CAN'T SAY, THIS MEANS THAT.

IT'S, IT'S LARGELY OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION.

>> >> ONCE WE PICKED A SONG WE KNEW WE WANTED TO APPROACH, THE IDEA IS TO NOT COPY BOWIE, BUT ALSO NOT TOTALLY IGNORE WHAT HE DID.

WE WOUND UP TAPPING INTO , I THINK, FOUR OTHER MUSICIAN ARRANGERS TO DO TREATMENTS, AND A TREATMENT OF A SONG IS, SO YOU TAKE A DAVID BOWIE SONG, AND MAYBE THE PERSON WHO'S DOING THE TREATMENT MIGHT CHANGE THE FEEL, MAYBE CHANGE THE TEMPO, MAYBE RE-HARMONIZE A LITTLE BIT AND PUT THEIR OWN SPIN ON IT.

>> >> SPACE ODDITY WAS ONE OF THEM.

I WAS LIKE , DO WE REALLY WANT TO GO THERE?

BECAUSE IT'S POP-CULTURE.

>> IS UPDATED TREATMENTS, ALONGSIDE VOCALIST PAUL MARA NARROW 'S JAZZ UNDERTONES, CREATE WHAT THEY'RE DESCRIBING IS A NEW CONCEPT ALBUM TITLED THE BOWIE PROJECT.

>> IT'S NOT JUST AN ALBUM ABOUT DAVID BOWIE.

IT'S, THERE IS A, THERE ARE MANY UNDERLYING THEMES THAT ARE COHESIVE THROUGHOUT THE ALBUM.

SO IT PLAYS WITH AN OLD-FASHIONED CONCEPT ALBUM.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY REQUISITE OF, LET'S PICK, YOU KNOW, 50% OF HIS, 50% -- IT WAS JUST MATERIAL THAT WE FELT SPOKE TO US AND HAD SOME TYPE OF COHESION IN AN ALBUM.

WHATEVER CAMP THEY'RE IN, IF THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF A DAVID BOWIE SONG, I THINK THEY'RE, THEY CAN FIND A WAY INTO THESE STORIES, BECAUSE HE WAS BRILLIANT AT WRITING FOR ALL OF US.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M ANGEL LETO.

>>> AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHERE TO FIND THE BOWIE PROJECT, AND BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR HOW YOU CAN LIFESTREAM THE NEXT LIVE CONCERT IN APRIL.

>>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING, AND PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 FOR THE WEEK IN REVIEW, AND AT 10:00 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

NOW FROM ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.