LEGO uses AI-generated images in LEGO NINJAGO quiz
The LEGO Group appears to have used AI-generated images in a LEGO NINJAGO quiz, sparking criticism within the LEGO community.
In a LEGO NINJAGO quiz aimed at children (now taken down), several images of LEGO NINJAGO characters appear to have been created using AI. First spotted by legoanimegirl on X, the images have caused many to express disappointment in the company using AI to create images. LEGO YouTuber and LEGO Ambassador Network member Tyler Anderson (KeepThePiece) brought the matter to the attention of the LEGO Group via the LAN, which the LEGO Group later responded to with an official comment.
The use of AI-generated images is a controversial one that has become a legal matter in some cases. In 2022, American artist Kelly McKernan began to investigate her own work being stolen to train AI, which ended up resulting in a class-action lawsuit against Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and DreamUp. While this lawsuit was specifically relevant to the manner in which those tools used copyrighted artwork to train the AI, the debate around AI and how it learns from human artists has continued ever since.
What’s more, at a time when many countries around the world are facing economic instability, there have been several examples of humans getting laid off as companies replace their roles with AI. In China, gaming illustrators have reportedly been laid off as companies switch to using AI, while AI automation is one of the number one concerns for unionizing game developers and was (and still is) a major part of the SAG-AFTRA strikes from last year.
In the case of the LEGO NINJAGO quiz, the images are quite clearly not the usual graphic design quality that we’d expect from the LEGO Group. Anyone who’s spent much time looking at AI art will recognise the tell-tale signs of AI use. Ethics aside, the images have some clear issues, whether that’s the odd proportions of the characters or the fact that one of the images of Kai appears to see him sporting a Naruto headband.
LEGO NINJAGO fans have shared displeasure about the use of the images on X, with many criticising the LEGO Group for the apparent use of AI.
The LEGO Group made an official statement after being made aware of the issue and has taken the quiz down.
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