In complete agreement, Katie, humanity has the edge, indeed, in your perfect words we're "wobbly" and "weird", and as always the new new machine is just a work tool and toy, which we get worked up about (at first). If we go back to its roots, "weird" was "wyrd", the power to control fate, from weorðan, "to become". All we have to do is be as human as we can be.
Hi Katie! I’m new to Substack and just came across your awesome post. I love your take on the importance of staying “weird” as an illustrator. To build on that point, I agree that AI still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to generating authentic content. Not long ago, my partner and I did a quick experiment with one of the AI generators out there (Leonardo AI) to see if we could get it to create a children’s picture book spread (just for fun). We asked it to make a scene of “diverse” children playing on a playground. Aside from a few anatomical errors (seven fingers on one hand), what was glaringly obvious was that the AI was creating images that felt generic. And even worse, stereotypical. For now, AI relies on being fed human data to make its choices, and unfortunately, that comes with the slippery slope of “collective human bias.” As artists and illustrators, this is where our unique lived experience shines through. We can’t, and shouldn’t be replaced by a computer when it comes to storytelling. As another illustrator friend said to me about AI one day: “It’s like eating plastic fruit. It looks real, but it tastes like wax.” And as a children’s illustrator (and a mom), I hope to feed the kiddos real, authentic stories :)
Yes to seeing the silly increase of fear about our AI overlords as scary as when the Gutenberg press had monks running around like the sky was falling 🙃 I wrote about this as well and actually found the results quite humorous!
I just went through the hoops of substack to be able to make this simple comment: you’re hilarious and awesome, real and authentic. Thank you for encouraging the rest of us to be as well, Katie! Tracey, Minnesota, US
Hi Katie, i just love your posts! And i love being weird (i could 'improve' in that and still relax much more into my truest, weirdest self - thanks for the reminder!)
Wonderful! Thank you! I haven't gotten too bent out of shape about it all but I HAVE had trouble soothing other folks' anxieties about AI taking their jobs... This helps. Also...the field of fucks—amazing.
Oh I've had a wobble about this recently, I am a designer and Canva was quite a change but I now think it is a great tool so I suppose it just drilling down into what makes us special. I am still trying to figure it out tho.
Love this blog post. The link to the 8 week class doesn't work though.
Ahh thank you Jillian - all fixed now! Blimmin' technology*
https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/freakflag
*human error 🤣
Bravo! Well put.
This is one of the best inspirational talks yet!😹💛
👏🥳 Yes to all of this! I'm excited to set sail on another Good Ship voyage soon! ✨
Well said, Katie!!! Brilliant. And I’m already looking out a piece of fabric to make my own cross-stitch message... love it! ❤️❤️❤️
In complete agreement, Katie, humanity has the edge, indeed, in your perfect words we're "wobbly" and "weird", and as always the new new machine is just a work tool and toy, which we get worked up about (at first). If we go back to its roots, "weird" was "wyrd", the power to control fate, from weorðan, "to become". All we have to do is be as human as we can be.
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes. Did I say yes? Ok good.
Hi Katie! I’m new to Substack and just came across your awesome post. I love your take on the importance of staying “weird” as an illustrator. To build on that point, I agree that AI still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to generating authentic content. Not long ago, my partner and I did a quick experiment with one of the AI generators out there (Leonardo AI) to see if we could get it to create a children’s picture book spread (just for fun). We asked it to make a scene of “diverse” children playing on a playground. Aside from a few anatomical errors (seven fingers on one hand), what was glaringly obvious was that the AI was creating images that felt generic. And even worse, stereotypical. For now, AI relies on being fed human data to make its choices, and unfortunately, that comes with the slippery slope of “collective human bias.” As artists and illustrators, this is where our unique lived experience shines through. We can’t, and shouldn’t be replaced by a computer when it comes to storytelling. As another illustrator friend said to me about AI one day: “It’s like eating plastic fruit. It looks real, but it tastes like wax.” And as a children’s illustrator (and a mom), I hope to feed the kiddos real, authentic stories :)
This is so good Katie. I had leg cramps in the sardine tin this week and am making some changes. Hilltop dressing gown moment incoming!
Yes to seeing the silly increase of fear about our AI overlords as scary as when the Gutenberg press had monks running around like the sky was falling 🙃 I wrote about this as well and actually found the results quite humorous!
I just went through the hoops of substack to be able to make this simple comment: you’re hilarious and awesome, real and authentic. Thank you for encouraging the rest of us to be as well, Katie! Tracey, Minnesota, US
Hi Katie, i just love your posts! And i love being weird (i could 'improve' in that and still relax much more into my truest, weirdest self - thanks for the reminder!)
Flap away, my friend. You Rock!
Wonderful! Thank you! I haven't gotten too bent out of shape about it all but I HAVE had trouble soothing other folks' anxieties about AI taking their jobs... This helps. Also...the field of fucks—amazing.
WOW!! That was truly an amazing read!! I think I need to read it again because I need to digest all of it!!
Oh I've had a wobble about this recently, I am a designer and Canva was quite a change but I now think it is a great tool so I suppose it just drilling down into what makes us special. I am still trying to figure it out tho.
You just made my morning a lot more brighter.
Thanks Katie, and Yes Yes Yes to all of that!