The debate over using generative AI art in media such as television show intros and background art in games has escalated over the past few years. A number of players have recently accused Epic Games of using generative AI for art in Fortnite, but things may be less easy to spot than some of them thought.
In the wake of Epic’s CEO thinking that AI labeling should be done away with, fans pointed out a few alleged instances in Chapter 7. There’s a poster for the Mile High Retreat, showing a Yeti napping in a hammock with the caption “relax faster, relax higher.” Looking closer, though, the Yeti appears to have four toes on one foot and five toes on the other. Misnumbered digits are usually an indicator that something was AI-generated.
“So I’m pretty much done with Fortnite,” one player posted on Bluesky. “There were statements made by Tim Sweeney saying that AI usage doesn’t need to be disclosed, and then AI usage was found all over this current season, from art to sprays to in-game songs.” They posted three more instances of AI usage; however, one of them was proven to have been done by a human artist.
This is an interesting topic! The use of AI in gaming and media opens up a lot of fascinating discussions. It’s great to see players engaging with these developments and sharing their insights.