It looks like Wizards of the Coast is in hot water again. This time, for apparently using AI generative art to promote the latest cards for Magic: The Gathering.
Wizards of the Coast is the company responsible for releasing Magic: The Gathering tabletop game since 1993. The game is so popular that it has amassed a loyal following since it was released more than 30 years ago. However, despite its fame, this did not stop the community from criticizing the company's recent actions, especially after it once claimed that it would never use AI generative work ever again.
AI Again?
For those who did not know, Wizard of the Coast previously released a statement that required its artists, writers, and creatives to refrain from using AI generative tools to create anything that has to do with Magic: The Gathering. This includes the cards themselves, as well as any promotional materials. However, it seems that this rule was not followed because a recent ad has shown what appears to be content generated by AI.
On X/Twitter, people have pointed out that Wizards of the Coast is back at using AI to generate art. User GreenSkyDragon has highlighted some inconsistencies that may arise when using Artificial Intelligence.
Some of these inconsistencies include crooked lines, distorted details, and even extra stuff that are not typically present on the same items in the real world. For example, this pressure gauge has a lot of weird distortions.
Another user saw some images having cables that looked weird and seemingly not connected to anything.
There are some people, though, who were not quick to criticize the company. User SpringloadedDev opined that the distorted images are not a result of AI generative tools, but rather, the pictures were made using a technique called Photobashing.
Photobashing is a technique used in many forms of media, including video game art, movie production, etc. This involves the use of similar images and "bashing" them together to create something cohesive, with some refinements in color and lightning, of course.
User NerdPropellant seems to be in agreement with SpringloadedDev that the artist responsible for creating the images may have stitched multiple images together to not only alter the scene, but also blend them in a way.
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Bonafide Artist Quits
Amid the recent controversy, Dave Rapoza, one of the artists who worked at Wizards of the Coast, has quit his job. Rapoza's decision to resign stemmed from the company's rather weak stance against the use of AI to promote its products. "I'm quitting because they took a moral stand against AI art like a week ago and then did this," he said. "Don't play stupid, if you can't admit this is obviously AI, then I'm definitely done working with you all - don't insult our intelligence," Rapoza added.
After this has blown up, Wizards of the Coast has released a new statement to address the issue. According to the statement, the company is going to update its processes, especially with regard to how it will work with creatives moving forward. The company is also committed to improving its efforts on how it can better detect content generated by the AI.
Now, it remains to be seen if Wizards of the Coast is going to uphold its promise of more transparency and better processes against AI-generated content. However, a closer look at the recent events shows that things are not going well for the company.
What do you think? Will the company make good on its promise to thwart AI-generated content in the future? Or will they commit the same mistake?
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