We are living in an era where artificial intelligence has stopped being a science fiction concept and has become an extension of ourselves in everyday life. Before, it was Google or Wikipedia; now it is ChatGPT, Claude, and many other tools. I remember something similar happening with cell phones. Today, many people do not know how to live without a phone, either because they are afraid of missing out or because being without one feels almost the same as being disconnected from the world.
But this is not new. If we go back in time, we can find similar examples, such as the arrival of photography. Many painters felt offended because, suddenly, someone could capture a beautiful landscape with a single click. That made them feel threatened. The same thing happened when Photoshop appeared. People said brushes and pencils would no longer be needed to draw or design. But anyone who has opened Photoshop for the first time knows that its tools can feel like the controls inside an airplane cockpit. If you do not know what each element does, you will not be able to bring out the full shine of your creations. The tool alone will never do the work for you. Never.
Going back to AI: at first, I also saw it as an enemy. I am an illustrator, and I fully understand that this represents a real global issue. However, over time, I learned that we cannot make it disappear. And the moment an artist starts exploring these tools for research, references, or process, they are immediately labeled as the “Judas of illustration.”
Many people write comments from the comfort of their phones and computers, throwing hate or insulting others for using AI, as if they were committing some kind of creative crime. But what I see is that most people react to the first thing they see on screen without analyzing the context. They see the word “AI” in a post, in some nodes, or in a process, and the trigger activates automatically. Then, from their glass-like emotions, they use their frustrations and fears to throw tomatoes at the people who are actually doing the work.
If you look around the internet, the term “AI slop” usually refers to AI-generated content made for empty entertainment, pure brain rot, and infinite scrolling. It is content that does not ask much from the brain and only feeds automatic consumption. But working with a human-in-the-loop approach is something completely different. That means real human intervention: exploring tools, iterating, correcting, directing, deciding, and showing the process. I do not see anything wrong with that, unless AI is being used to incite hate, discrimination, scams, or to harm a person or a group of people.
What I absolutely do not support is people using AI to create art and then pretending it is entirely their own authorship, without judgment, without process, and without honesty. The tool does not make you a professional. Just like a camera does not make you a photographer, and Photoshop does not make you a designer. What makes you a great professional is your judgment, your knowledge, your experience, and the value you are capable of bringing to the table.
Tools are extensions of ourselves. There are many ways to get from point A to point B, and it is important to be prepared. Many people live in fear of being replaced, but they do not take action. They stay stuck in complaint, paralysis, and insults. I believe that behind many of those attacks there is a scarcity mindset. I also believe that if what you are doing makes people uncomfortable, starts conversations, and forces you to think better, then you are probably on the right path, even if it feels controversial.
Today, we are dealing with a very confusing and widely misunderstood distinction around AI. In my case, working in the iGaming industry, researching, building tools with AI support, and using vibe coding have become an important part of my process to create what I need. And no, it does not always work on the first try. Or the second. As creators, we need to learn how to communicate precisely what we want: clear prompts, strong inputs, context, references, and direction. Not everyone knows how to use these tools in their favor.
That is why we need to iterate, test, correct, and try again. And for that, as designers, we have a duty to develop a trained eye, hawk vision, and a little, or a lot of critical thinking. I just want to say one thing: do not be afraid of AI. Many people see it as the ugly duckling of technology. But the solution is not to reject it just because. The solution is to learn how to build a relationship with it without losing your essence.
Because the designer is the one in charge. The designer creates universes. The designer decides what has coherence and what does not. AI only obeys instructions, as long as those instructions are clear. I am afraid too. But I do not let fear paralyze me. I do things while afraid, with or without AI, and that is what counts.
And after this post, whether you love me or hate me is not my problem, and it does not determine my value. 🙂 I keep evolving. And do not worry: cartoons will never leave me, because they are part of my personality, my style, and the way I see the world.
See you in another post.
My journey through California has been nothing short of amazing. I set out to explore beyond my comfort zone, choosing California as my destination to traverse the vast landscapes of the United States. Even though I didn’t end up living there as originally planned, each moment became a treasure, etched into the fabric of my memories.
Heir-Conditioned” is a Looney Tunes short directed by the legendary Friz Freleng, a gem from the golden age of animation that graced our screens on November 26, 1955.
🌟 I always had my eyes set on one of the world’s largest conventions, and the day finally arrived just a week before I headed to Las Vegas for another event of equal magnitude, but in a casino setting. (During that time, I worked for a casino video game company until the pandemic pulled me away from that exciting universe.)
