What happened

Glasgow City Council approved plans for a large mural on Elmbank Street based on a concept image generated using artificial intelligence that included unlikely elements such as a bald eagle (of which there are none in Scotland) and a floating steam train.

The proposal drew sharp online criticism from local artists and residents who said it lacked cultural relevance and emotional depth. Artists labelled it “soulless, banal and sterile” expressed frustration that AI had been used instead of human creativity.

The businessman behind the proposal, Derek Paterson, defended the project by saying the AI image was only an indicative mock-up and that a human artist would create the final piece. 

The outcry highlighted wider unease about AI’s role in the arts and planning processes.

Why it happened

The controversy stems from the initial use of generative AI to create the mural concept, which many saw as prioritising convenience or cost-saving over human artistry and cultural authenticity. 

Critics argued that involving AI at the conceptual stage displaces artists, diminishes the value of human skill, and undermines the city’s rich artistic heritage. 

There was also a perception that decision-makers did not fully appreciate the significance of meaningful human involvement in public art.