Magic: Wizards of the Coast, the publisher of The Gathering, has acknowledged a discrepancy in their previous stance on AI involvement in artwork creation. Despite their initial assurance that all art was “human-created,” a marketing image for the game was revealed to contain “AI components.” This revelation followed a controversy over AI-generated art in a Dungeons & Dragons handbook, leading Wizards of the Coast to prohibit the use of AI-generated drawings in their products starting in 2023.
The contentious image, which has since been taken down, was shared on January 4 via the official Magic: The Gathering account on X platform (formerly Twitter). It depicted five Special cards within a steam laboratory setting filled with brass and wood, positioned on a device powered by valves alongside an air gauge. The caption praised the vintage look of the estates in the frame.
Numerous fans quickly identified features in the image indicative of AI involvement, such as challenges in consistently rendering precise details, particularly around connectors and the pressure gauge. Initially, the Magic profile refuted these observations.
In a now-deleted response, the editor stated, “While we acknowledge the concerns raised by fans regarding the design discrepancies in the artwork, we maintain that this art was exclusively created by humans without AI intervention.”
However, Wizards of the Coast later admitted their error in a subsequent statement.
On January 7, the Magic profile conceded that their earlier assertion denying the use of AI in the marketing image was inaccurate. Despite the manual creation of the artwork by an individual, it was revealed that certain AI elements, now commonplace in tools like Photoshop, had inadvertently made their way into the creative process.
The company emphasized their commitment to human creativity in Magic products and announced a revision in their collaboration guidelines with vendors to exclude AI conceptual tools from future marketing materials.
In a separate announcement on the Magic website, Wizards of the Coast expressed a desire to enhance their understanding of AI’s role in art creation, acknowledging the evolving landscape where generative AI tools like Photoshop are prevalent. They reaffirmed their dedication to prioritizing human artistry over AI-generated content.
Wizards of the Coast, known for its talented artists and illustrators, faced criticism for incorporating AI art in Magic materials, prompting them to reinforce restrictions on AI use. This decision was reinforced following the discovery of AI tools in the D&D sourcebook and the Magic tie-in with Tomb Raider.
Despite the company’s efforts to curb AI utilization, some artists expressed frustration over the ongoing challenge of monitoring AI integration in image development. Notably, Magic designer Dave Rapoza parted ways with Wizards of the Coast after the organization’s initial denial of AI involvement. The incident underscored the complexities faced by businesses collaborating with independent artists amidst the proliferation of AI art tools.
