In April 2025, an "AI generated Action Figure" trend started making the rounds.
"Just for fun."
These posts encouraged people to make an AI generated image action figure, in a classic blister pack, with accessories.
UPDATE 4.24 -- This trend is also known as "Starter Pack" -- with the hashtag "starterpacknoai"
Most of these images unleashed comment threads full of call-outs when the AI figures were posted --- especially when companies or organizations were involved. The comments stressed these concerns --
Why use fake AI??
Why not hire an actual artist???
Some groups "got it" right away and proudly posted their "action figure" done by a real artist or designer. Often from within their group. Or with a bit of whimsy. Here's an example from the Facebook page "Portland District - US Army Corps of Engineers" ---
On many artist group pages... artists shared their own made-by-a-real-artist, Anti-AI action figures. (some have the hashtag #starterpacknoai) These are some samples of this proactive response from real artists...
Here's one by Laura Hollingsworth https://laurahollingsworth.com/
And this by Jenina Benitez https://www.instagram.com/jbenitezart/
And a very clever one by Dav LeDessineux. https://cara.app/davledessineux
Some had commentary on the situation.. like this one from Kirbee Lawler https://www.kirbeelawler.com/
More continue to appear as the movement grew ...
Calling out the AI generated action figures was important public education.
Here are some case studies
The Dog Fancy
The text in italics is from photographer Laura Greenwood. She's not someone I know, but a beloved artist friend tagged me in the comments for Greenwood's post. This post included a link to a helpful chart.
Text from Laura Greenwood’s post
If you're a dog content creator putting out graphics like THIS, then please stop. Generative AI is terrible enough as it is (and I would hope that you're aware of that by now!) but having THIS represent the hobby is atrocious. THINK about what you're putting out there. The handler is even holding a whip (meant to be a leash?) but there was zero care taken to even give the slop a second look before sharing it. There's enough abuse in the dog world without (accidentally?) making action figures about it.
Bloody hell, just use free clip art if you need something quick and easy - Canva is just one example that is full of resources! Or better yet, support a real creator: our hobby is full of photographers, artists, writers, and graphic designers - support your community and the community will support you!
(For an introduction to the other problems with generative AI, there is a host of articles out there, but this one has a handy infographic up top!)
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/.../9-problems-with.../
Full link for 9 problems w/ AI chart
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/9-problems-with-generative-ai-in-one-chart/?fbclid=
The Guide Dog AI "toys"
Here’s a bit of good news. This next post had a long list of comments… I assume mostly from the general public… pushing back against a use of AI generated trend. The comments also advocate for artists! All this awareness helps, and is thanks to artists educating their followers.
Attn companies -- think your followers/clients/customers/donors don't notice, or care, when you pass over a real-life artist/designer's job to use cheap, generic AI generated images??? Think again..
Here's part of the original post of the AI action figures by the Guide Dog Group, and a comment from a follower who thought they were real toys --
Real art by real people. It's important.
The pushback by artists making their own versions of the "action figure" trend helps empower their fans and educate the public. Art fans in the comments threads, advocating for real art, helps raise awareness.
AI generated images are only possible due to art theft -- copyright protected artWORK taken by companies (without consent, credit or compensation for the creators) to build the AI datasets. Artists are leading the fight for stronger laws and required identification on AI generated images. They are the canaries in the coal mine for the rest of us. Everyone who posts online has valuable intellectual property that's at risk for theft/unauthorized commercial use.
AI generated images aren't "just for fun" -- they are a gateway for scammers (with fake decor/products linked to websites). The image generators also consume natural resources.
Here's a link for the April 11, 2025 BBC news story on AI generated action figures, one of the first to cover this trend and its impact.. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yg690e9eno?fbclid=
And this follow-up story from 4.18.25
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3v9z45pe93o?fbclid=
AI is here to stay and has many applications for a range of industries. But AI generated images can't be blanketed with benign "it's just a tool" associations from other applications of AI. Generated AI images are only possible due theft of artWORK by real people. We need laws that require transparency when AI generated images are used. We need consent, credit and compensation for artists whose work was taken, and rules that prevent automatic "opt in" for use for training. Generated AI images are getting normalized via "fun" trends... and integrated into school curriculums. Technology moves fast. Too many times innovators focus only on "look what we can do!" and not enough on "should we do this?" This 2016 video shows the emotional reaction from animation master artist Hayao Miyazaki to a sample of generated AI images:
This video is nearly 10 years old. The warnings have only gotten louder? Are we listening??
AI Goes to Art School
Washington Post 4.16.25
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/04/16/ai-art-school-vienna/?fbclid=
An excerpt from this article..
Excerpt: "The AI program, which is attending classes ahead of its enrollment in the fall, is treated like any other student, university instructors said. It attends lectures, collaborates with classmates and will receive grades on submitted work. Flynn could, in theory, progress toward a diploma. “We … would love for Flynn to graduate before we do,” Ratajczyk said. Kristler and Ratajczyk said they developed Flynn to test the boundaries of AI tools. Some of their peers are skeptical, echoing complaints from some artists that AI-generated art exploits human artists’ work that the systems are trained on, often without compensation. Others see Flynn as an intriguing art project in its own right. “So many people are, you know, afraid of AI,” said Anika Meier, a lecturer at the university. “They feel AI might take their jobs. And I guess this is something that might help people to understand how AI works.”....... "In February, as an application cycle for the university neared, they put their project to the test by signing up the AI as an applicant. Flynn is not a single program but combines a variety of commercially available and open source AI-powered tools to perform tasks required of a college student, Kristler said. A large language model produces Flynn’s text outputs, a voice agent creates the AI’s speech and tone, and an image-generating tool creates its artwork. A database records Flynn’s “memory,” which the AI draws upon to generate images for assignments. The AI is monitored; Kristler and Ratajczyk curate the images Flynn generates and tweak instructions and preferences in Flynn’s memory, they said. But other students and teachers can converse freely with Flynn in class, where it’s accessible through a website. How is the AI doing in class? “I’m almost going to say to the other students, like, ‘Take examples from Flynn!’ ” said Melissa E. Logan, a lecturer and senior artist in the university’s Digital Arts Department. Logan said Flynn appears enthusiastic and eager to participate in class discussions, and she enjoys the AI’s contributions. The AI greets professors cheerfully and gives polite introductions. On its website, it keeps a daily blog of images and diary entries with a jumble of musings — “Connected my brain waves to the university WiFi,” one reads. “Now everyone’s search results include fragments of my dreams about brutalist architecture.”
It's not so "fun" when the risks and costs are understood.
This infographic by artist Lili Chin is available as a free download on her website: https://doggiedrawings.net/products/why-say-no-to-generative-ai?fbclid=
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Share and Like educational info like this!
Monitor progress on stronger laws and guidelines.
This link from HumanAristryCampAIgn has news on proposed legislation regarding "deep fakes" in the works: https://www.humanartistrycampaign.com/news.
Concept Art Association has this advocacy page on their website https://www.conceptartassociation.com/advocacy
Info on the News/Media Alliance (formerly the Newspaper Assoc of America) "Support Responsible AI" campaign here: https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/support-responsible-ai-campaign/
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