What caused this popular iOS illustrator app to swear off generative AI?

The makers of Procreate have reignited the debate regarding the use of generative AI to make art.

Procreate’s anti-AI stance is largely seen as a bold gamble. (Image: Unsplash)

At a time when nearly every digital platform seems to be getting a generative AI makeover, the company behind Procreate has gone against the grain and pledged that it will not be bringing any AI features to the digital illustration app that is hugely popular among iPad users.

“We’re not going to be introducing any generative AI into our products. I don’t like what’s happening to the industry, and I don’t like what it’s doing to artists,” Procreate CEO James Cuda said in a recent video posted on X.

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By taking a decisive stand, Procreate has reignited the debate regarding the use of generative AI to make artworks. The art community itself has been divided over the issue with some artists embracing AI-driven creativity tools while others remain wary of the ethical implications posed by the emerging technology.

What led to Procreate’s decision against AI?

In a short note published on its official website, Procreate said, “Generative AI is ripping the humanity out of things. Built on a foundation of theft, the technology is steering us toward a barren future. We think machine learning is a compelling technology with a lot of merit, but the path generative AI is on is wrong for us.”

In addition to its “no generative AI” pledge, the drawing and sketching app also reiterated that it neither tracks user activity nor retains access to the sketches made using Procreate.

“We’re here for the humans. We’re not chasing a technology that is a moral threat to our greatest jewel: human creativity. In this technological rush, this might make us an exception or seem at risk of being left behind. But we see this road less travelled as the more exciting and fruitful one for our community,” it added.

How do artists feel about Procreate’s decision?

Procreate’s anti-AI stance is largely seen as a bold gamble. By taking a contrarian approach, the platform looks to emerge as a viable alternative for artists who are sceptical of generative AI.

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Welcoming the announcement by the illustrator platform, one artist wrote on X, “This is very appreciated, thank you.” “Whatever you need at any time, know I’m here!! Artists support each other, and also support those who allow us to continue doing what we do! So thank you for all you all do and so excited to see what the team does next!” said another artist who is also suing AI companies such as Midjourney for alleged copyright infringement.

Also Read | ‘Creativity and AI can co-exist…’: Creative professionals paint a good picture of AI image generators but warn about misuse

However, a few other artists expressed disappointment at Procreate’s decision, stating that such features can be used to augment artwork. “Most of my early work is made with a combination of AI and Procreate. 7 years ago, before text-to-image was even a thing. I loved Procreate because it used tech to boost accessibility. Like AI, it augmented traditional skills to allow more people to create. No rules, only tools,” artist Claire Silver was quoted as saying by Ars Technica.

Meanwhile, creative software giant Adobe has rolled out a generative AI tool called Firefly which is supposedly trained on licensed or public domain content. The Generative Fill feature for Adobe Photoshop users is also powered by AI and can be used to extend or modify a particular image. The company is further working on text-to-video AI models, as per reports.

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artificial intelligence