Once thought to be a thing of science fiction, Artificial Intelligence has slowly but surely permeated every sphere of our daily lives, and amidst the ongoing protests by voice actors and artists alike, one legendary manga artist has chimed in to warn fans about how AI could also end up ruining the manga industry if left unchecked.

With even JoJo's Bizzare Adventure, Hirohiko Araki, believes this could create "a world of con-artists." In the latest issue of New Manga Techniques: How to Create Villains released on November 15, Araki commented on the recent rise of AI-generated illustrations, dubbing AI a "societal evil" that will "undoubtedly end up impacting manga down the line."

JoJo's Bizzare Adventure Creator Araki Comments on AI-Generated Art

Araki Warns Readers and Creators on Copyright Infringement by Artificial Intelligence

A post on X by the jojo_wiki recently shared a translated section of the latest New Manga Techniques issue, where, in chapter #2, Hirohiko Araki shares his opinions on AI-generated art, beginning with a shocking anecdote of his own recent experience with AI. Araki explains how he recently came across an illustration and believed it must be something he himself had created only to find out that the image was AI-generated.

"No, I didn't draw this."

The most shocking part of this story was that the AI-generated illustration had managed to mimic even the intricacies of Araki's art style, such as the distinct way he draws eyelashes, so much so, that even Araki was almost unable to tell them apart. He goes on to claim that he would surely not have been able to tell the difference had the AI image been based on an older illustration of his that he did not all too well.

Araki goes as far as to call artificial intelligence a "villain" that allows scammers and fraudsters to commit copyright infringements. He also states time and time again that as AI continues to improve and become more and more accessible, the world will continue to be filled with such con artists exploiting AI as well as manga artists.

How Does AI Pose A Danger to Manga Artists?

Copyright Laws Fail to Protect Manga Artists From AI Infringement

Whether one has watched or read JoJo's Bizzare Adventure or not, the series is arguably one of the most recognizable franchises out there owing to its unique visuals. Hirohiko Araki has one of the most distinctive art styles that he has developed over the years much like many other manga creators and the fact that AI was able to fool even the original creator himself is a huge cause for concern.

As Araraki states, as AI continues to get more sophisticated and accurate at mimicking real art, AI-generated art and real art will soon be indistinguishable, making it harder and harder for manga artists to protect their work and their creations from being misused. Not only can AI be used to create inappropriate illustrations but its use also undermines the very value of a manga artist's work and the years of effort put into perfecting their craft.

While AI-generated art cannot be protected by copyright law, there is still a lack of clear regulations against AI-generated art being used for commercial purposes. More importantly, AI generators continue to use artists and illustrators' creations to train AI algorithms without permission while the developers of AI platforms continue to claim that doing so is fair use. Simply put, there is nothing protecting AI-generated art from infringing on even copyrighted illustrations and the issue will only get worse from here on out if laws in AI's favor do arise as Araki suspects.

Could AI Ever Replace Manga Artists and True Storytelling?

Artificial Intelligence Will Surely Pose a Great Threat to the Manga Industry in the Near Future

The biggest question that arises from all of this is whether AI could ever truly replace manga artists entirely. It is no exaggeration to say that manga is one of the most expressive storytelling mediums and though an author's intention may not always be communicated to a reader, soulless AI creations simply cannot evoke the same emotions within a reader. Though AI can mimic a mangaka's art style down to even the smallest of personal touches, it doesn't seem like AI could replicate the heart that goes into true storytelling or even the many nuanced artistic choices that go into a story as a whole.

That said, as impossible as the notion may seem at present, there is no saying what AI could be capable of in only a few years. Artificial intelligence is already threatening the livelihoods of voice actors who are struggling not to be replaced while even the smallest of artists are constantly trying to find new ways to prevent their art from being stolen to train AI models.

Like any other modern invention, artificial intelligence can surely be a useful tool, but without regulations that prioritize protecting human creation, creativity itself may be in danger of going extinct. Hopefully, like Hirohiko Araki, more manga artists will soon recognize the danger that AI poses to the manga industry and will step up to better protect their works from AI and potential infringement.

Source: Hirohiko Araki's New Manga Techniques: How to Create Villains via jojo_wiki on X.