On Sunday, Procreate, maker of the popular illustration and animation app for iOS, vowed not to introduce AI-generated features into its software programs, saying the technology was “built on a foundation of theft.”
The announcement has been widely welcomed within the creative community and contrasts with other creative software makers who have rushed to incorporate AI capabilities into their programs.
Procreate released a statement on their website explaining their decision to support creativity that is “made, not generated.” The statement reads:
Generative AI is taking the humanity out of things. This technology is built on the foundation of theft and is leading us to a barren future. We think machine learning is a fascinating technology with a lot to offer, but generative AI is heading down the wrong path for us.
We are here for humanity. We are not pursuing technology that morally threatens our greatest treasure: human creativity. In this technological rapid development, we may be seen as exceptions or in danger of being left behind. But we believe that the road less traveled is the more exciting and rewarding one for our community.
In a related video posted to social media, Procreate CEO James Cuda was even more forthright, telling users: “I really hate generative AI. I don't like what's happening in the industry, and I don't like the impact it's having on artists.” Watch his comments below:
We never get there. Creativity is not produced, it is made.
For more details, please visit https://t.co/9Fgh460KVu✨ #Reproduction #noaiart pic.twitter.com/AnLVPgWzl3
— Procreate (@Procreate) August 18, 2024
Last year, Procreate announced a new animation app, Procreate Dreams, to complement its flagship illustration app, Procreate, and the company is now working on a desktop version of the Procreate app.
