In a surprising turn of events, Wizards of the Coast has admitted that a marketing image posted earlier this month was indeed created using generative AI. The company initially denied these claims but has now issued an apology, while also reiterating its stance against the use of AI art in its products.
The controversy began when the now-deleted post on Magic: The Gathering’s official account featured an image promoting the upcoming Ravnica Remastered set. Fans quickly noticed inconsistencies in the background image, such as warped numbers on a pressure gauge, leading them to suspect the use of AI tools.
Initially, Wizards denied the use of AI and attributed the visual inconsistencies to human error. However, they later backtracked and admitted to utilizing AI components in the creation of the image. A representative from the company acknowledged the diligence of the community in pointing out the misstep.
Wizards of the Coast has strict guidelines in place that prohibit the use of generative AI in the creation of final products, including their popular game Dungeons & Dragons. The company attributed the slip-up to an unnamed vendor and announced plans to update their rules for marketing partners, explicitly banning the use of AI.
This incident is not the first AI-related controversy for Wizards of the Coast. In the past, they faced issues with AI-generated art in their Dungeons & Dragons products. In August 2023, an art piece “polished” with AI was accidentally included in Glory of the Giants. Furthermore, fans raised accusations that recently revealed art in the reissued Player’s Handbook of 2024 was also AI-generated.
As Wizards of the Coast addresses the fallout from this recent incident, it remains to be seen how they will reinforce their ban on AI art and navigate the challenges posed by generative AI in the future.
The source of the article is from the blog elektrischnederland.nl