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- The manga creator explains that acknowledging AI-generated art's capabilities does not mean supporting it, following backlash over an accidental repost.
- But his answer suddenly became the center of attention.
- It shows a growing concern about AI-generated art, especially as it becomes harder to distinguish between an image made by a person and one made by AI.
The manga creator explains that acknowledging AI-generated art's capabilities does not mean supporting it, following backlash over an accidental repost.
Vinland Saga artist Makoto Yukimura has found himself at the center of an unexpected controversy after remarks about AI-generated art sparked a debate across social media. The issue began when Yukimura uploaded a drawing of one of his characters, Thorfinn, praising its look without realizing the artwork was purportedly AI-generated.
Yukimura commonly posts fan art on social media and often thanks those who create images inspired by his manga. However, that repost drew backlash after users pointed out that the artist allegedly used AI filters and other people’s artwork to create the graphic. After these claims, several users begged Yukimura to delete the repost.
But his answer suddenly became the center of attention.
“Wow, the AI is doing a good job,” Yukimura was quoted as saying, praising the image’s quality. The short message was then shared on social media, with some users taking it as an endorsement of AI-generated art. Yukimura later clarified his meaning as the argument grew more heated. He stressed that his comment was merely an observation and not a statement of support for AI-generated art.
The manga writer admitted artificial intelligence can produce convincing results, but also voiced reservations about the technology’s progress and its potential impact on artists. It’s a truth that artificial intelligence can create impressive photographs, not something I’m celebrating,” he stressed. Yukimura said he had a hard time telling AI-generated illustrations from the originals.
He spent decades drawing manga and creating hundreds of panels, but claimed that when he first saw the image, he didn’t realize it was AI-generated. Yukimura then mentioned his tendency to repost fan art. He apologized for any original art he may have missed and admitted to finding about four images in his recent reposts that appeared to be AI-generated or stolen artwork.
He pledged to be more careful about liking and sharing illustrations, saying he could spot suspicious submissions by looking at photos and reading responses. But he admitted that mistakes may still happen. Importantly, Yukimura also encouraged people not to target either the developers of AI-generated images or the people who told him about the situation. He doesn’t want anyone participating to be targeted with harassment just because it’s controversial.
It shows a growing concern about AI-generated art, especially as it becomes harder to distinguish between an image made by a person and one made by AI.
Yukimura had no desire to engage in the ongoing debate about artificial intelligence; he simply wanted to enjoy fan art of his characters. His remark makes it clear that acknowledging technological advancement should not automatically mean supporting all its consequences.
Ultimately, the creator of Vinland Saga seems more interested in celebrating his fans' talent than in getting into social media debates. It also highlights how quickly a scandal can be generated over a normal comment when it is taken out of its original context.
