The Controversy Surrounding Fantastic Four: First Steps Posters
Another Day, Another Suspect AI Art Controversy
Another day, another case of suspect AI art from a major brand. This time, it’s the turn of Marvel Entertainment, whose Fantastic Four: First Steps posters are being picked apart by fans, some of whom think they’ve spotted tell-tale signs of AI image generation.
Marvel Denies AI Use, But Fans Are Skeptical
Marvel denies the use of an AI image generator to create the artwork, and it might well be telling the truth. Some of the "evidence" of AI being picked out could just as easily be the result of rushed compositing in Photoshop. However, since there’s no knowing for certain, people are quick to suspect AI.
The Controversy Surrounds the Crowd Scene
One of the most criticized posters shows a crowd scene, with suspect elements including repeated faces in the crowd, which seems to be more likely a sign of old-fashioned compositing than AI. Even the most suspicious element – a hand with three fingers – could probably be explained by over editing. It looks as if the figure may originally have been pointing, and an artist was told to add a flag in there.
A History of Criticism
Film fans would dissect and criticize poster designs long before AI image generators came along, and we’ve seen plenty of anatomical oddities over the years. They used to be dismissed as "Photoshop fails," but today, it seems everything is an "AI fail" (see our round-up of the big AI art controversies from last year).
The Impact on the Art World
AI art remains so controversial that a brand like Marvel, whose history is deeply connected to the work of artists, should probably avoid it. I can understand why Marvel fans are upset. But it becomes difficult in these cases where it might not be AI.
A Solution to the Problem?
It’s hard to simply enjoy any poster design anymore since we’ll always be on the lookout for a hint of AI to cast scorn on. And that makes me worry that brands will start to think that if they’re going to get accused of using AI anyway, why not just use it?
Conclusion
I’m not sure what the solution is. Perhaps brands like Marvel should make the effort to ensure that they use a style of art that can’t possibly be taken for AI, or perhaps we’ll soon need tags to certify a design as human-created rather than the other way around.
FAQs
Q: Is AI art really that bad?
A: AI art can be misleading and can be used to create fake images, which can be problematic.
Q: What’s the difference between AI art and human-created art?
A: AI art is created using algorithms and machine learning, while human-created art is created by artists using their skills and creativity.
Q: Should brands like Marvel avoid using AI art?
A: Yes, brands like Marvel, which have a history of working with artists, should probably avoid using AI art to maintain the integrity of their brand and the art world.
Q: Is it just a matter of trust?
A: Yes, trust is a major issue when it comes to AI art. People are quick to suspect AI, and it can be hard to regain that trust once it’s been lost.
