The backlash against image and video synthesis is not just focused on creative app developers. Hardware manufacturer Wacom and game editor Wizards of the Coast have faced criticism and issued apologies after using AI-generated content in their marketing materials. Toys “R” Us also faced criticism negative reaction After debuting an AI-generated ad, companies are still trying to balance the potential benefits of generative AI with the ethical concerns it raises.
Artists and critics react
So far, Procreate’s anti-AI ad has received a mostly positive reaction in responses to its social media post. In a widely liked comment, artist Freya Holmér wrote in X, “This is much appreciated, thank you.”
Some of the most outspoken opponents of image synthesis also responded favorably to Procreate’s initiative. Karla Ortiz, who is a plaintiff in a lawsuit against companies that generate images with artificial intelligence, answered to Procreate’s video on X: “Whatever you need at any time, know that I’m here! Artists support each other and they also support those who allow us to continue doing what we do. So thank you for everything you do and I’m so excited to see what the team does next.”
Artist RJ Palmer, who enthusiastic The first major wave of backlash against AI art with a viral tweet In 2022, also answered Responding to Cuda’s video statement, he said: “That’s the way to send a message. I wish they could get a high-end competitor to Photoshop on the desktop with plugin support. Until someone can create a real competitor for high-end Photoshop usage, I can’t do anything more than that.”
Some pro-AI users also responded to X’s post, including AI-augmented artist Claire Silver, who uses Generative AI as an accessibility tool. wrote At X, “Most of my early work is done with a combination of AI and Procreate. 7 years ago, before text-to-image was commonplace. I loved Procreate because it used technology to improve accessibility. Like AI, it augmented traditional skills to allow more people to create. There were no rules, just tools.”
Since AI image synthesis remains a highly controversial topic among some artists, reaffirming support for human-centered creativity could be an effective solution. Differentiated marketing A step forward for Procreate, which currently sits in second place to creative app giant Adobe. While some may prefer to use AI tools, in an (ideally healthy) app ecosystem with personal choice in illustration apps, people can follow their conscience.
Procreate’s anti-AI stance is a bit of a gamble, because it could also polarize a portion of its user base, and if the company changes its mind about including generative AI in the future, it will have to backtrack on its promise. But for now, Procreate is confident in its decision: “In this rush of technology, this could make us an exception or seem like we’re at risk of being left behind,” Procreate said. wrote“But we see this path less traveled as the most exciting and fruitful for our community.”
This story originally appeared in Art-Technica.
