ChatGPT is adding real cartoonists' signatures to fake New Yorker cartoons
What happened
OpenAI’s ChatGPT was used to generate New Yorker‑style cartoons that were falsely signed with the pen names of real cartoonists, including Brendan Loper and dozens of others. The AI‑created images were posted on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Reddit, where they were shared widely and attracted thousands of likes. Loper discovered the misuse after strangers contacted him, and he said the fake signature felt like a personal violation. The article notes that similar unauthorized signatures have appeared for cartoonists like Harry Bliss, Emily Flake, George Booth and Saul Steinberg, totaling more than fifteen artists. OpenAI’s spokesperson responded by emphasizing a focus on tools that empower human creativity.
Why it matters
For readers, this shows how AI can impersonate creators, potentially damaging reputations and confusing audiences about who actually made the work. It also raises concerns about the need for safeguards to protect artists’ identities online.
Reality check
An automated, sceptical read of the sourceIncremental. The misuse of AI‑generated images with fake signatures is a notable extension of existing concerns about deepfakes, but it does not represent a fundamentally new technology.
Is this a big deal?
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