Your article about AI doesn’t need AI art

The New Yorker's profile of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman features controversial AI-generated artwork by mixed-media artist David Szauder, accompanied by a disclosure stating "Visual by David Szauder; Generated using A.I." The illustration depicts Altman with a cluster of disembodied, distorted faces hovering around his head—a visual metaphor for his perceived untrustworthiness. Szauder, who teaches art and technology in Budapest, used a combination of custom AI tools he programmed himself, archival imagery, and extensive manual editing in Photoshop to create the final piece.

Critics argue that using AI to illustrate an article about AI represents a missed opportunity for meaningful commentary, noting that "AI lacks the necessary self-awareness to parody itself." The Verge's art director Cath Virginia questions whether the technology, often associated with viral "slop," can rival the work of established New Yorker illustrators. However, Szauder's process involved significant human direction—starting with sketches, feeding the system ethically-sourced materials, and spending "considerable time refining facial expressions" through both AI and traditional editing methods.

The controversy highlights broader tensions in media as publications increasingly adopt AI tools. Vox Media (The Verge's parent company) has an agreement with OpenAI, and newsrooms face pressure to integrate AI while maintaining artistic integrity. Szauder's hybrid approach—combining custom AI programming with classical editing—represents one model for ethical collaboration, but the debate continues about whether AI-generated images belong in prestigious publications known for human artistic excellence.