Artists, Magicians, or Robots?

Wizards of the Coast cops to using AI art in a marketing image for Magic: The Gathering after banning its use in 2023. Fans spotted AI-like elements in a January 4 post, which were initially claimed to be human-made.

• Company's Response: Upon scrutiny, Wizards acknowledged the inadvertent inclusion of AI components, citing AI-integrated tools like Photoshop. They reaffirm their commitment to human artists and review vendor processes to align with this ethos.
• Broader Implications: This incident highlights the challenge of monitoring AI use, especially among freelancers and contractors. It also sparked a legal and ethical debate in the art community.
• Midjourney Controversy: The AI art generator Midjourney faces allegations of using Magic: The Gathering art to train its algorithm, further fueling the controversy around AI art and copyright issues.

The controversy has affected artist relations, with notable artist Dave Rapoza severing ties with Wizards of the Coast due to the issue.