AI Stole My Art
See, here’s the thing…
I have to use AI for my work. I host podcasts talking about it, and I’m the “straight man”. The skeptic. The person who’s like, “Yeah, but isn’t AI gonna take over the world?”
But see, I have to use it in my role to create efficiencies. Time savers. It’s great at that.
But I will never, ever use it for generative work.
EVER.
And here’s where it starts to infuriate me.
See, I also illustrate for my job. I have these little mascot guys who I love and who represent the Community I’m a part of. Someone - with the ultimate best of intentions - made an AI version of my characters to say how wonderful the Community was and to get more people to join.
At first I was like, “Ahahaha, did that really happen?” And then I was like, “Hah… hah… ah… you know that character design is off…” And then I was like, “Please don’t ever do that again. Those are mine. If you want an illustration, ask me. Don’t just make your own.”
But I was afraid to say it. I didn’t want to be a problem or to make the person feel bad because, as I said, they had the best of intentions.
But then this happened.
For my next book, the ladies in my writers’ group encouraged my to illustrate my own book cover. My degree is in animation and illustration and, as you know, I illustrate almost all my stories. I was like, “Ok, hold my beer.”
My designer and I went through several iterations and chose something that I could work up and make nice. Now, I’m not a painter. I’m really not. This had complex night-time lighting with the moon, and so she and I worked together and did a lot of color correction and whatnot until it looked wonderful. I am truly proud of it. Not only that, her typography is delicate and strong at the same time,. The balance is nice, truly lovely.
And here’s where this asshole came in.
I posted about the book across social media, and on Threads (why is it always Threads?) someone took our art, made an AI version (where the person of color became a pale asian dude), and replied back with a “Sowwie!” (It literally said, “Sowwie”), “I couldn’t help myself!” Then proceeded to tell me they were a cover designer and TRIED TO SELL A BASTARDIZED VERSION OF MY OWN ART BACK TO ME.
Why?
Just why?
Why did you think it was okay, why did you waste the tokens to do it, and why the f*ck did you think I would pay you for it?
Even when I told them, “I prefer my version, as I illustrated it myself”, they insinuated that theirs was better!!!
And here’s the thing:
I’m a human, and even though I’ve been illustrating for over 20 years, it’s not my main profession. I have room for growth in both my character designs, my fashion choices, and my color theory.
Being a creative professional comes with a lot of uncertainty. Not just, “Will this X make me money?” But, “Is this X really fit for the eyes of others?” “What if it’s not good enough?” “What if I waste people’s time?” And of course that leads to the dark thought, “What if I’m a waste?”
When people AI my art, it makes me feel stunted and worthless, juvenile and untalented. And I think the prompter doesn’t even care that it makes me feel this way.
Don’t waste tokens on this.
Don’t waste electricity on this.
Don’t waste water on this.
NO ONE NEEDS THIS!
#EndRant. Now I’mma go cry in the corner.
