What AI art can't do. And why maybe that doesn't really matter :-(

[Dire Bare]

But there are countless small-scale projects that might raise a few thousand dollars. In those cases I doubt investing in preliminary work is a wise investment.

I don't care. Big or small or even individual creator . . . if you are using gen-AI, I will not support your project.

Small creators figured out how to do it before gen-AI, so can you.

I don't accept the "this is the only way I can afford to do this project" excuse.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I don't accept the "this is the only way I can afford to do this project" excuse.

Uhhh...that's not what I was saying. It's an efficiency argument, sure, but that's not the same as the above.

Also, in my case (if I were starting crowdfunding campaigns, which I'm not) it wouldn't be "an excuse" because I don't believe there's anything wrong with it. "Rationale" would be more accurate.

 

[Morrus]

Uhhh...that's not what I was saying. It's an efficiency argument, sure, but that's not the same as the above.

Also, in my case (if I were starting crowdfunding campaigns, which I'm not) it wouldn't be "an excuse" because I don't believe there's anything wrong with it. "Rationale" would be more accurate.

A Kickstarter page is an ad for a book. What's the difference between using it in your book as opposed to using it in your ads?

 

[Bill Zebub]

A Kickstarter page is an ad for a book. What's the difference between using it in your book as opposed to using it in your ads?

Quality, including consistency. As far as I can tell, AI only gets you so far.

As a backer, I wouldn't be turned off by a Kickstarter that had some pencil sketches of concept art, used to convey what direction the art was going.

Similarly, I wouldn't be turned off if those concepts were AI-generated. It would give me a sense of what aesthetic the author was going for. Which is important to me, in part because I think the illustration style imagined by the author(s) says a lot about what the content will be like and sets the tone for it. I probably would not back something that had no example artwork.

 

[Morrus]

Quality, including consistency. As far as I can tell, AI only gets you so far.

As a backer, I wouldn't be turned off by a Kickstarter that had some pencil sketches of concept art, used to convey what direction the art was going.

Similarly, I wouldn't be turned off if those concepts were AI-generated. It would give me a sense of what aesthetic the author was going for. Which is important to me, in part because I think the illustration style imagined by the author(s) says a lot about what the content will be like and sets the tone for it. I probably would not back something that had no example artwork.

That’s not what I asked.

The page is an ad for your project. If Kelloggs starts using AI to make cornflakes ads, is that OK? If not, why is your Kickstarter page different?

Similarly, I wouldn't be turned off if those concepts were AI-generated.

Yes, you’ve been very clear on that. It has largely been your thesis in this thread.

I think no matter how many times you rephrase the question, you’re probably not going to get the answer you want. Sorry!

 

[Bill Zebub]

The page is an ad for your project. If Kelloggs starts using AI to make cornflakes ads, is that OK? If not, why is your Kickstarter page different?

Interesting.

I see Kickstarter campaigns as proposals, not simply ads for products. (In fact, it kind of annoys me when the thing is already done and Kickstarter is just being used for pre-sales.)

So, in my opinion, it's less like Kellogs selling me corn-flakes ("Now with more tokens!") and more like an architect showing me some preliminary sketches. And while I get excited for the next big Fria Ligan or Arcane Library thing, I get more pleasure from throwing 5 or 10 bucks to little authors who will be lucky to raise $1,000, even if I probably won't end up using their thing.

I think no matter how many times you rephrase the question, you’re probably not going to get the answer you want. Sorry!

There isn't really an answer I "want"...I have no skin in this game...I'm just trying to understand where the boundaries of this are.

And I really am sorry if this has all been discussed over and over again. Like I said, I have been largely avoiding the AI threads because it seemed like only certain opinions were really welcome. But at the same time I want to understand.

 

[Morrus]

I see Kickstarter campaigns as proposals, not simply ads for products.

Well, tomatoes tomatoes. I don’t think it matters what you call it. Call it Barney if that helps!

Kelloggs: we don’t see it as an ad, more an informal informative guide.

 

[Bill Zebub]

Roger that.

 

[ART!]

Small creators figured out how to do it before gen-AI, so can you.

I don't accept the "this is the only way I can afford to do this project" excuse.

This.

I guess a counter argument might be "but in the modern marketplace how can I compete with those who do use "AI"-generated images".

I think the answer is that in this industry/hobby you do it by overtly not using "AI" stuff.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

This.

I guess a counter argument might be "but in the modern marketplace how can I compete with those who do use "AI"-generated images".

I think the answer is that in this industry/hobby you do it by overtly not using "AI" stuff.

Yep. Nothing new: Savile Row tailors have been succesfully competing with ready-to-wear suits not by doing the same thing as ready-to-wear manufacturers, but by embracing what makes them different from the other products (and customer experiences) and distinguishing themselves from them.