GCU Forum - Flooded by AI Art

Gerda_141408

Full Member
artist

Posts: 166

Flooded by AI Art
Sep 15^th, 2025, 6:27pm

Hey there,
It seems GCU is becoming a platform for AI art, as these designs appear to be flooding the site. It’s sad to see this, as I've always appreciated that GCU supported individual artists, and this feels like the opposite of that.

I'm wondering if there's been any official statement from GCU on this matter, or if this is simply the direction the platform is heading. I'd appreciate any feedback on this.

Thanks,
Gerda

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Doreen_137017

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 5274

Re: Flooded by AI Art
Reply #1 - Sep 15^th, 2025, 7:43pm

Hi Gerda,

GCU has had an AI policy in place for a couple of years now and I recommend taking a moment to read it.

You'll find that GCU does not accept straight AI generated work. Artists using AI software must add value by significantly making artistic changes to the piece, and GCU requires a link to the original AI creation to ensure during review that added value is sufficient.

Many artists, myself included, have dabbled in AI purely as a fun way to create. The artist's heart is one that should always explore and grow.

GCU's AI Policy for submissions:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/forum/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1686087460

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Gerda_141408

Full Member
artist

Posts: 166

Re: Flooded by AI Art
Reply #2 - Sep 15^th, 2025, 9:21pm

Hi Doreen,
Thanks for the reply. It seems like these guidelines are a clear green light for AI creations. Ultimately, this is a numbers game where the sheer volume of AI submissions overpowers the smaller number of traditional ones. After all, AI is always faster and more efficient. Why bother drawing a dog for a greeting card when AI can do it so much better and quicker? I was just hoping GCU might have taken a different path to support art made by humans and not by AI. I'm not even talking about the concern where AI takes all its information from. It's just really sad to witness this.

Thanks again, Doreen.
Gerda

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Gerda Steiner Designs, LLC:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/gerdasteinerdesigns

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Jay_134502

Senior Member
artist

Posts: 281

Re: Flooded by AI Art
Reply #3 - Sep 17^th, 2025, 6:41pm

Gerda,
AI graphics is definitely a work in progress. There are still a few instances here on GCU of Santa with two left hands or two right hands and mangled broken fingers. There are horses pulling a wagon where one horse is standing still and the other one is moving. There are even examples of AI derived artist’s notes which describe something in the image which does not exist. AI is here to stay so just keep doing what you do best as long as you can.
Jay & Susan

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Cherie_131661

Senior Member
artist

Posts: 467

Re: Flooded by AI Art
Reply #4 - Sep 29^th, 2025, 7:51am

Quote from Gerda_141408 on Sep 15^th, 2025, 6:27pm:

Hey there,
It seems GCU is becoming a platform for AI art, as these designs appear to be flooding the site. It’s sad to see this, as I've always appreciated that GCU supported individual artists, and this feels like the opposite of that.

I'm wondering if there's been any official statement from GCU on this matter, or if this is simply the direction the platform is heading. I'd appreciate any feedback on this.

Thanks,
Gerda

It seems most platforms are 'allowing' that type of application now, and I agree, it is sad. A sign of the times of 'faster, bigger, better, more' and it has had its effect on a lot of fields, not just art. Creativity is welcomed of course, but creating by utilizing programs that have always taken bits and pieces from original artists isn't what I consider ethical. Many will continue to agree and disagree, nobody knows the 'whole' story and I just try not to use it whenever I can. I saw the effect it had on my digital art downloads, my sales have almost stopped. I could never produce a thousand images a day and charge only pennies for them, but that is basically what is happening in the 'clip art' and digital download world today. With that said, thanks for the comment. It is all very interesting, to say the least. I like the advice that Jay & Susan have shared and I also agree with that, do the best as long as you can!
Thanks,
Cherie

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http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/Cheries_Art

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Doreen_649594

Junior Member

Posts: 64

Re: Flooded by AI Art
Reply #5 - Sep 29^th, 2025, 8:28am

That's why the ONLY AI tools I use is Firefly from Adobe with Photoshop, because it's the ONLY software I found where the AI software searches ONLY through Adobe Stock Images from artistic contributors who have agreed to be included. It has not been programmed to troll the internet for content.

Keep that in mind if anyone chooses to explore this new creative path. When I do use AI, what I end up with is extremely different than what the AI software produced and that's fun for me to make something new and unique by using AI software as simply an element in my design from which to build on.

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Mindy_artist Gold Member artist Posts: 547	Re: Flooded by AI Art Reply #6 - Sep 29^th, 2025, 11:04am GCU's AI policy is strict on the artist's added value to the AI design and must be displayed/provided for the reviewers to compare the AI generated work and the final image submitted to GCU.
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