Artist Lois van Baarle, known as Loish and recognized for her contributions to the game Horizon Zero Dawn, has publicly addressed and refuted accusations of using generative AI in her artwork. The artist detailed her experience on Instagram, where she explained how such baseless claims can be damaging and highlighted the importance of understanding the human creative process.
Loish shared that she was accused of using AI on TikTok, prompting her to reflect on the ease with which such allegations are made, especially against artists whose work has been exploited by AI systems. She pointed out that she has posted numerous videos documenting the creation of the specific piece in question, providing clear evidence of its original, human-made origins. Furthermore, she noted that the artwork was created in 2023, during the nascent stages of widely available generative AI technology.
With a career spanning over two decades, Loish has consistently shared her artistic journey and the evolution of her style, offering a transparent look at her process. She emphasized the challenging environment artists currently face, competing with AI-generated content that floods social media algorithms and creative industries. "Now we’re at a point where we can be accused of using AI for our art, even when documenting every step of our process," she stated.
Loish underscored that generative AI relies on the existing work of human artists, which is often incorporated without consent, credit, or compensation. "Now our work has been overshadowed and drowned out by it," she added. While acknowledging the necessity of vigilance in identifying AI-generated content in games and other media, she stressed the importance of avoiding inaccurate accusations that can harm an artist's career.
In her concluding remarks, Loish urged a deeper engagement with art and creativity. "Real human connection is so important right now. Which is why it’s so important to learn the skills needed to figure out if something is real: whether it has been created by a living, breathing person. So click beyond the comment section. Check profiles, watch process videos, learn the warning signs for AI generated imagery. Especially if you’re part of a younger generation that has been exposed to this kind of content for much of your life. Don’t forget what makes us human!"
Fans can explore Loish's extensive portfolio and creative process through her Instagram, DeviantArt, personal website, and Patreon account, where she offers tutorials and detailed breakdowns of her work.