Caricature Artists are PISSED at this new Ai Trend

Caricature Artist, A.J. Jensen, breaks down the Ai Trend that is going on right now

I just uploaded the new ToonHeadz video on my thoughts of the new Ai Caricature Trend that is circulating around Social Media. Basically people are getting on ChatGPT and asking them to render out a caricature. In a few minutes, its rendering out this flat, flattering, "caricature" that is giving people some instant gratification. Yet, this is just a glimpse of what caricature is all about. My new video breaks down the hardships that caricature artists are facing and what they are feeling in this moment.

https://youtu.be/vkzZM6k6Ly0

I made this video to break down how this caricature trend is effecting artists. That way non-artists can watch this and sort understand why caricature artists are frusterated. But also, I wanted to share why caricature artists have so much value and what they have to face. And there is more fingers on an Ai generated image on why caricature artists are valuable.

BEHIND THE VIDEO: FULL HONESTY

I won't lie, I was a bit nervous uploading this video... the reasons being that I am criticizing trends in general and sort of calling out our behaviors on social media. Then I am also trying to bring comfort to my fellow caricature artist friends with just a simple answer. Which is BE POSITIVE. And, I don't want to sound like a sign that says Live, Laugh, Love. Yet, I do want to share why being positive is so important.

I have noticed how important it is to be positive in bad situations. This doesn't mean that you smile like some kid from the 1950s while a mushroom cloud is going off. It just means that sometimes there is better energy spent than worrying about the things you can't control. For me, I struggle with anxiety and can sometimes be an insecure mess. Over years of therapy and self-reflection, I have noticed it stems from a feeling of a lack of control — because I am trying to control too much. It took me years to get to a place where I have noticed that about myself, and I am at a place now where I'm slowly learning how to let things go.

So AI is sort of a trial of that, for me. I was worried about AI back when we were in lockdown because of COVID. And I went on a spiral. It was like my brain was telling me, "Hey, the world is closed, but if it ever opens back up, it won't matter because AI is going to destroy your job anyway." Yet, once things started opening up, I told myself that I am going to try to be the best I can be in these hard situations. I have to be present, because that is the only place where you can improve — you can't improve in the past or future. Only the present. If there was any way I could compete with AI, it was to build myself to a place where I have true value — and positivity is a big indicator of what people are needing.

I will also say this — if an artist wants to take on the responsibility and goals of fighting against AI, they have my full support. My only suggestion for anyone wanting to take on this role is that you might need to understand how many sacrifices to your artwork might need to happen. There is a lot of time, work, and energy going to have to go into that role for it to be a successful protest against AI — and there will be a lot of sacrifices to your artwork in order to handle that role. So I guess what I'm trying to say is there are two paths that you can take to be successful against AI.

1. Protest it and give it your all to make a difference.

2. Be positive, and work on things to be better than what AI can give you. That can include working on your creative skills more, learning new business strategies, or even how to give more of an experience for your customers/clients.
   

I guess that is my message for it. If this video didn't communicate that, I am sorry in advance. Yet, all-in-all I do think being a caricature artist is going to be a real movement against Ai generated work. I think its going to be due to the experience that we offer people.

I always will wish anyone well!

Thanks! -AJ