Wizards of the Coast have done it again. The new Glory of the Giants book for D&D 5e has sparked a little controversy for including AI-generated art.

They have since mea culpa’ed the whole thing and claimed that they didn’t realize it was AI art when they approved it for the book. But you’re telling me that their professional art director and editors and everyone else who sees the book on its way to final approval didn’t catch it when a few fans were able to point it out immediately upon seeing the image?

Now, I know the adage re: malice/incompetence but I don’t see it that way.

I think this was testing the waters. Slip one in, see if there is any outcry, see if anyone cares. If they get away with it this time, then they can keep doing it, right? Really help with that whole, “D&D is undermonetized problem.”

I could be wrong. But that’s my guess. And now that there was backlash, WotC have officially said, “hey, all good, no AI art in our books.” Because it’s always about the bottom line. It’s always about pushing boundaries to see if you can save/make a buck for some greedy shareholder somewhere.

Chaosium took an active stance against AI art in their products at the beginning of this controversy. Others, like the new FASA have taken the opposite approach and said AI art is fine (and I immediately stopped supporting them in any way). It seems like some companies haven’t actively confronted it yet. I’m looking at you Catalyst. As you already have a reputation for not being great when it comes to paying your artists, I’d hate to see you fall further and get into bed with AI.

Anyway, I am actively, pro-actively against AI art or writing in my gaming spaces. Hell, in my entertainment spaces, period. I’ve already ditched two out of the three 3D art groups I was a part of because they are allowing AI art.

Back to Wizards of the Coast. It’s one thing to say – and maybe even possible – that overworked staff just didn’t catch the AI art submission that they put in their book. But when you consider the whole picture: the OGL bullshit, the use of actual Pinkertons (wtf?), and the sudden desire to wring every, last dollar they can out of D&D and damn the consequences? I’m not inclined to give them much leeway. You shouldn’t either.