Magic: The Gathering Community Fears Generative AI Will Replace Talented Artists

Slate's Derek Heckman, an avid fan of Magic: The Gathering since the age of 10, expresses concern about the potential replacement of the game's distinctive hand-drawn art with generative AI -- and he's not alone. 'I think we're all pretty afraid of what the potential is, given what we've seen from the generative image side,' Sam, a YouTube creator who runs the channel Rhystic Studies, told him. 'It's staggeringly powerful. And it's only in its infancy.'

'Magic's greatest asset has always been its commitment to create a new illustration for every new card,' he said. He adds that if we sacrifice that commitment for A.I., 'you'd get to a point pretty fast where it just disintegrates and becomes the ugliest definition of the word product.' Here's an excerpt from his report: So far, Magic's parent company, Wizards of the Coast, has outwardly agreed with Sam, saying in an official statement in 2023 that Magic 'has been built on the innovation, ingenuity, and hard work of talented people' and forbidding outside creatives from using A.I. in their work. However, a number of recent incidents -- from the accidental use of A.I. art in a Magic promotional image to a very intentional LinkedIn post for a 'Principal AI Engineer,' one that Wizards had to clarify was for the company's video game projects -- have left many players unsure whether Wizards is potentially evolving their stance, or merely trying to find their footing in an ever-changing A.I. landscape.

In response to fan concerns, Wizards has created an 'AI art FAQ' detailing, among other things, the new technologies it's invested in to detect A.I. use in art. Still, trust in the company has been damaged by this year's incidents. Longtime Magic artist David Rapoza even severed ties with the game this past January, citing this seeming difference between Wizards' words and actions when it comes to the use of A.I. Sam says the larger audience has likewise been left 'cautiously suspicious,' hoping to believe Wizards' official statements while also carefully noting the company's moves and mistakes with the technology. 'I think what we want is for Wizards to commit hard to one lane and stay [with] what is tried and true,' Sam says. 'And that is prioritizing human work over shortcuts.'

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