Illustrator drops Bradford Literary Festival over AI use

The Bradford Literary Festival faced significant backlash after using AI-generated images in its promotional materials for its 2023 event. 

The controversy erupted when a tweet featuring an AI-generated animated image of a young girl reading was shared online, prompting authors and illustrators to criticise the festival for undermining creative professionals and contributing to the devaluation of artistic work.

In one case, book illustrator Chris Mould pulled out because artificial intelligence (AI) was used to produce its publicity images. Due to hold a masterclass at the event, he told the BBC, "How can I stand under their roof and tell people they can go to art school?"

In response to the criticism, the festival issued an apology, acknowledging that the use of AI-generated images did not align with its commitment to supporting creative careers. They clarified that while they did not explicitly commission AI-generated illustrations, they also did not exclude them from their brief to the design agency, Lazenby Brown. 

The festival has since committed to not using AI-generated imagery in the future and has replaced the problematic images with licensed stock photos.

The incident highlighted broader concerns within the creative community about the ethical implications of AI in the arts, prompting discussions about the need for clearer guidelines and protections for artists.