Dundee University faces criticism after Scottish comic creator Eve Greenwood alleged that an educational comic about menopause utilized AI-generated imagery, a claim the artist has formally denied.

Key points

• The comic, Navigating Menopause in the Workplace, was produced by researchers at the University of Dundee and the University of Aberdeen.
• Eve Greenwood, a comic publisher and university alumna, identified visual inconsistencies in the work, such as distorted anatomy and shifting backgrounds, as evidence of AI usage.
• Artist Katy Stone rejected the accusations, providing sketches and citing specific artistic techniques to defend her traditional illustration process.
• Stone and collaborator Phillip Vaughan have previously published works explicitly opposing the use of generative AI in the comic industry.
• The project was funded by Henpicked and intended to support research into menopause experiences in professional environments.

The controversy highlights growing tensions within the academic and creative communities regarding the integration of generative AI in professional storytelling. It underscores the reputational risks institutions face when commissioning visual content for sensitive public health topics, particularly in regions with strong traditions of independent comic artistry.