The New Yorker recently sparked debate by featuring an AI-generated illustration of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, created by artist David Szauder, to accompany a profile on the executive.

Key Points

• The illustration depicts Sam Altman with multiple disembodied faces, intended to convey a sense of untrustworthiness and uncanny complexity.
• Artist David Szauder utilized a custom coding system and manual editing in Photoshop to refine the AI-generated output, rather than relying on simple text prompts.
• The New Yorker included a formal disclosure at the bottom of the image stating it was generated using AI.
• Szauder previously collaborated with the magazine on other AI-assisted projects, emphasizing a process that incorporates archival imagery and human-led creative intent.
• Critics argue that using AI for editorial illustration risks normalizing the technology in a field already struggling with job displacement and declining freelance rates.

Why it Matters

The use of generative AI in prestigious publications highlights the ongoing tension between traditional artistic craftsmanship and the adoption of automated tools in professional media. This editorial choice raises significant questions about the future of freelance illustration and whether AI can effectively serve as a nuanced creative instrument or if it merely risks devaluing human labor.