Stop Calling It Art: When AI Replaces Effort With Laziness

Let’s get real for a second. I'm not here to sugarcoat. I'm tired of pretending AI "art" is some kind of revolutionary gift to creativity. Because the truth is, it's being used less like a tool and more like a shortcut. A way to skip the time, the learning, the failure, the growth that real artists go through.

Billboards, social media ads, posters, even Shopee listings; everywhere you look, AI-generated images are being pushed as if they’re meaningful creations. Companies do it. Small businesses do it. Even random online sellers trying to make RM1 off AI art. And guess what? It’s not inspiring. It’s not clever. It’s just lazy.

Why Use AI? Let’s Be Honest.

Let’s not pretend. People use AI because it’s fast, cheap, and doesn’t need human connection or skill. No brainstorming with a designer. No paying a fair rate. Just a few prompt words, a few clicks, and suddenly you're a "creator."

Sure, there are pros:

• You save money.

• You get instant results.

• You don’t need to know how lighting, anatomy, color theory, or storytelling works.

But at what cost?

When companies choose AI over real creatives, it sends one message loud and clear: “We care more about saving money than creating quality.” It’s not innovation. It’s cost-cutting disguised as progress.

An Insult to Artists, Designers & Creative Work

As someone who understands how long it takes to learn composition, how hard it is to study marketing, branding, and visual communication. Seeing people throw it all away for a free AI app is just... insulting.

There are people out here spending years mastering their style. People who pour their soul into their work. They don’t just “make something pretty.” They think about your audience. Your message. Your brand identity. The kind of emotion you want people to feel when they see your poster or product.

AI can’t do that. It can only guess based on patterns. It doesn’t care about your story. It’s not here to help your brand grow with integrity. But sure... if you want your brand to look rushed, soulless, and inconsistent, go ahead. Use AI. It’ll reflect exactly how much you don’t value creative depth.

The Ghibli AI Trend: A Violation in Plain Sight

And then there’s the Ghibli AI trend. Remember that? People started generating fake Ghibli-style art using AI. Some even fed other artists' work into the generator. One artist drew her own beautiful Ghibli-inspired piece, only to have someone take it, run it through AI, and claim it was “better.”

That’s not just disrespectful. That’s violating.

Imagine putting hours, days into a painting. Your emotions. Your vision. Your sweat. Only for someone to erase it with one click and say, “I improved it.” That’s not inspiration. That’s theft.

And let’s be honest: a lot of people wouldn’t even care. Because at the end of the day, it’s about convenience, not craft. Fast food art. Cheap. Quick. Disposable. And totally forgettable.

We’re Tired. But We’re Still Here.

Artists are tired. Tired of being undervalued. Tired of explaining why this matters. Tired of seeing passion replaced with shortcuts. But we’re still here. Creating. Studying. Evolving.

I’ve seen artists break down because their portfolios, years of effort got ignored, while someone with no skill just generated 100 AI images in an hour and got viral attention. It’s heartbreaking. And worse? Some of those AI images were trained using stolen artwork from actual artists who never consented.

Using AI Responsibly? Totally Fine.

Let me be clear: I’m not against AI. I’ve used it when I had art block. It gave me a push, a vibe, a spark. Sometimes it helps me imagine angles I hadn’t thought of. But I would never post that and say “This is mine.” I would never sell it. I would never act like I created something out of thin air with my words.

Pinterest exists. Instagram exists. Even artists browse for ideas. But when you start claiming, profiting, and pretending, that’s when it crosses a line.

There’s a Difference Between Using & Exploiting

Using AI to explore? Cool. Using AI to learn? Fine. Using AI to replace real work and make money off it without giving credit or effort? That’s low.

When someone posts AI art and says, “Look what I made,” I cringe. When they sell it to others who don’t even know free AI tools exist? I gag. Because it’s not about art. It’s about cashing in. And honestly, it’s disgusting.

If You Use AI, Just Be Real

I don’t hate people who use AI. I hate dishonesty. If you make AI art, just be upfront about it. Say, “I used AI.” Own it. Be transparent. That’s the bare minimum. That way, people can make their own choices. Respect is a two-way street.

But if you lie, pretend, and profit off it like you’re some visionary creator? That’s when you lose all credibility. And no, putting some grainy filter over an AI piece doesn’t make it yours either.

Final Thought: Artists Deserve More

AI is not going away. I accept that. It’s a powerful tool. But that doesn’t mean we should throw real artists under the bus. If you truly value creativity, then pay attention to where your art comes from. Support artists. Pay designers fairly. Stop treating creativity like it’s a vending machine.

Because if the world keeps choosing fast, free, and fake over thoughtful, human-made art... we’re not just losing jobs.

We’re losing respect.

VGen's Dumb Invite-Only System Needs to End!

In recent times, I’ve been reflecting on the issues surrounding VGen’s verification process for artists, and honestly, it’s hard to ignore how broken the system feels. VGen's decision to limit verified status to only those with an invitation code is not just unfair—it’s downright frustrating. The idea that anyone can get verified simply by receiving an invitation, regardless of their skill level, is a system that feels lazy and inadequate. Worse yet, it undermines talented artists who truly deserve recognition for their work.

As an introverted artist, the thought of begging for an invitation feels like a slap in the face. Why should I have to prove myself over and over just to be considered legitimate? Shouldn’t the platform be the one verifying artists properly instead of relying on a biased, closed-off invitation system? This approach not only excludes talented people but also gives the title of "verified artist" to individuals who may not necessarily have the skill or passion that should define it.

Recent events have only highlighted the flaws in this system. The recent scandal involving a fake emergency commission serves as a prime example of how VGen's current verification system is failing. When anyone can get an invitation code, it opens the door to scammers and fraudulent behavior, as we saw with someone who stole money by faking an emergency commission. This wouldn’t happen if the platform took the time to verify who they were letting in.

If VGen truly wants to protect both the integrity of their platform and the artists who rely on it, they need to take verification more seriously. The platform should be doing more than just handing out invites to anyone who asks. They should be looking into artists' work, reviewing commissions, and verifying progress to ensure legitimacy. This would help ensure that only qualified, potential artists are given the "verified" title.

As an artist who believes in the value of real, hard-earned skill, I can’t help but feel disappointed by how VGen is handling things. Their failure to thoroughly vet artists makes it difficult to trust the platform, and I know I’m not the only one feeling this way. It’s clear that they need to overhaul their approach, prioritizing more thorough checks for artists who want to get verified, rather than relying on a broken invitation system.

If VGen wants to regain the trust of its community and avoid being seen as clumsy or negligent, they need to change their policies immediately. No more "invite-only" systems—just thorough, legitimate verification processes that will allow real artists to rise to the top.

Let’s hope that other platforms are paying attention and learning from VGen’s mistakes. It’s time to stop gatekeeping, stop relying on invitations, and start verifying real artists based on merit and integrity.