No generative AI in Procreate. Photo: Procreate
In a bold move that sets itself apart from industry trends, the popular iPad illustration app Procreate has announced that it will not incorporate generative AI into its software application.
The decision, announced by James Cuda, CEO of Procreate, was revealed on 19 August following a bombardment of questions regarding the company’s plans and stance regarding AI for digital art. The decision is a surprising one as it comes at a time when many companies are embracing AI for image creation.
In the video statement above, James Cuda had made the company's position loud and clear. "We're not going to be introducing any generative AI into our products," Cuda declared. He added, "I really f**king hate generative AI. I don't like what's happening to the industry, and I don't like what it's doing to artists."
The company's stance is rooted in preserving human creativity. In a statement on their website, Procreate asserted, "Generative AI is ripping the humanity out of things. Built on a foundation of theft, the technology is steering us toward a barren future."
The announcement comes amid growing concerns within the creative community about the ethical implications and potential impact of AI on creative works. Even as Adobe had gone towards a more "ethical" approach of introducing AI tools to Photoshop by training its FireFly AI model on Adobe Stock Images, it is clear that many digital creators are concerned about AI models being trained on their work without consent and compensation (and rightly so).
As it stands from the comments of the video statement, Procreate's decision has been met with praise. Together with its stance on AI, the company's commitment to a one-time purchase model, rather than a subscription service, has also been another reason why it has captured the hearts of its user base.
As other companies within the digital art space continue to tackle AI integration, Procreate's stance on AI could influence the way we see the role of technology in creative processes and endeavours.
In the video, Cuda ends by saying, "We don't exactly know where this story's gonna go, or how it ends. But we believe that we're on the right path to supporting human creativity."
Source: Procreate via The Verge
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