AI Illustration Profile has Huge Following Numbers

Many people oppose the use of AI to create illustrations. Recently, it even made the news that Toei would begin using AI in anime production, which sparked protests across the internet. However, a recent case appears to have shed new light on the entire anti-AI movement.

AI Illustration Profile has Huge Following Numbers

A Japanese Twitter account that only posts AI-generated illustrations has become a hot topic on Japanese forums. The reason? This profile has amassed over 380,000 followers on Twitter — more than many traditional artists!

The creator also has a Patreon account with 272 paying members. The cheapest membership tier is around R$30 (approximately USD 6). So, what kind of AI illustrations does the account えーあい post to attract such a large audience?

Let’s look at some reactions from Japanese users:

• “In the end, everyone just wants to see good art. They don’t care if it’s made by a person or a machine.”

• “Raw AI-generated art doesn’t get popular. Those who can revise and touch it up are the ones who stand out.”

• “Doesn’t this basically mean the end of human illustrators?”

• “That’s nice… I wish I could just click a few buttons and feel like a creator too.”

• “Doesn’t matter if it’s AI, as long as it’s good enough to masturbate to.”

• “Only about 10% of AI illustrators are good — the other 90% just mass-produce garbage.”

• “Not long ago, people complained about weird fingers or identical faces. Now they’re comparing AI art to the top hand-drawn artists.”

• “It seems easy, but making good AI art is actually hard. I’ve only used the free version, but I couldn’t get what I wanted at all.”

• “Those who can draw and use AI will dominate. People who only do one or the other will be left behind.”

• “If it’s been retouched, that’s fine. Even if not, I don’t really mind.”

• “Anti-AI folks are slowly starting to accept it — hilarious.”

• “Only a small minority is truly against AI. Most people just don’t care. It’s like not caring whether someone’s a virgin.”

• “For viewers, it really doesn’t matter if the art was made by a person or AI.”

• “I always wonder who these people are fighting against. It’s ridiculous.”

• “Better and more popular than those who spend hours drawing.”

• “10% good, 90% trash? That applies to human artists too.”

• “Artists who hate AI only do so because they worked hard to learn how to draw, and now a newbie is getting more recognition.”

• “There are much better AI artists on Pixiv, yet this person has 380,000 followers?”

• “Humans give the final approval, so human taste still matters. Those who don’t get that just produce repetitive stuff.”

• “Comparing free social media metrics doesn’t prove anything. Show me real financial success: sold-out AI-only events, hit manga magazines made with AI… Haven’t seen any of that yet.”

Well, I did mention their Patreon with nearly 300 subscribers — that counts, right?

• “It’s good, but I can’t respect it. It feels disposable, good for killing time or… relieving stress.”

• “Post lots of popular characters and link to adult content — followers will skyrocket. Big-name artists already do that.”

• “I’d really like to know what qualifies as ‘retouching’ or ‘editing.’”

• “If not for anti-AI people, the artists themselves would be the ones benefiting from this, just like programmers.”

• “Whether it’s AI or hand-drawn, if it’s not a well-known character, nobody cares.”

The AI vs. anti-AI debate still has a long way to go.

via Você Sabia Anime