AI-generated images are still not accepted by most creatives in the art industry, mainly because it is hurting their business, and somewhat erasing the artistic process of creating genuine works. ibisPaint stands with artists as it takes down its AI feature.
ibisPaint Withdraws Its Image Generating AI
On January 10th, the drawing app made an announcement that artists are taking as a win. Its "AI Example feature" will be taken down from the service after users have had a "strong response" toward the addition of the tool.
This was just a day after the update was released for the App Store, Google Play Store, and Microsoft Store. ibisPaint stated that they only released the feature to "provide users with a new drawing experience.," but with the response, the company decided it was better off removed.
You may not have seen this particular feature if you're using the free version of the app, as it is only available to those who purchased the Prime membership for the phone app, or the Pro add-on for the Windows version.
The feature is no longer available as of writing. If have a Prime or Pro subscription and try to use the function, the app will simply tell you that the tool is under maintenance. With the announcement, the feature will not be coming back anymore.
For those who have purchased the subscription and are currently in the free trial, they can immediately cancel it before they are billed. If by chance they have already been billed for the membership, ibisPaint will allow refunds for the purchase.
To refund the paid bill, the request must be submitted through the application store where the app's Prime or Pro version was purchased. The refund process for iOSiPadOS, Android, and Windows can be started through the provided links.
Creatives Are Going After Other Art Products Too
AI-generated art is obviously a sore spot for hard-working artists all around the world, so it might not be a good idea for a company that sells to creatives to use AI art for their promotion. That's what Wacom, a company known for its pen tablets, did.
Users took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their disappointment over the company using AI art in their ads and other promotional materials. Wacom published a response in a blog post, apologizing to the art community for the mistake.
The Japanese graphic tablet manufacturer claims that it was not their intention to use AI-generated art, and that the images were purchased through a third-party vendor who did not disclose that it was AI-generated.
Wacom added that it had vetted the images through online tools to make sure that they were original artworks. After the art community provided their criticism over the images, the company immediately took down all content that contained AI art.
Furthermore, the company said that it appreciated the feedback and for holding it accountable for using such materials. "As a partner for artists around the world, Wacom supports human creativity and strives to serve the community with integrity."
