Forget AI Gotham: DC Comics bans tech in art and storytelling

DC Comics president and publisher Jim Lee announced at New York Comic Con that the company will “not support AI-generated storytelling or artwork,” declaring the policy will remain in place “not now, not ever” as long as he and SVP Anne DePies are in charge. The commitment positions DC as a rare holdout against AI adoption in entertainment, emphasizing human creativity over technological automation at a time when Hollywood studios are increasingly embracing generative AI tools.

What they’re saying: Lee delivered a passionate defense of human creativity during his panel discussion.
• “AI doesn’t dream. It doesn’t feel. It doesn’t make art. It aggregates it,” he argued.
• “People have an instinctive reaction to what feels authentic. We recoil from what feels fake. That’s why human creativity matters.”
• “Anyone can draw a cape. Anyone can write a hero. That’s been around as long as comics have been. It’s called fanfiction, and there’s nothing wrong with fanfiction.”
• “But Superman only feels right when he’s in the DC universe. Our universe, our mythos. That’s what endures. That’s what will carry us into the next century.”

Why this matters: DC’s stance represents a significant commitment from the largest and oldest publishing company in the comic book industry, potentially signaling broader resistance to AI integration in creative industries.
• The announcement was met with cheering from Comic Con attendees, highlighting growing fan frustration with what critics call “AI sloppification” of entertainment.
• Artists have long warned that generative AI poses direct threats to creative livelihoods, making DC’s position particularly meaningful for industry workers.

The big picture: The comic book industry has not been immune to AI controversies, with recent backlash following the resurrection of late Marvel legend Stan Lee as an AI-powered hologram at Los Angeles Comic Con last month.
• Hollywood studios have largely embraced AI technology despite early implementation challenges, viewing it as a pathway to streamlined production processes.
• Public sentiment toward generative AI continues declining as concerns mount about authenticity and creative displacement.

What experts think: While many praised Lee’s comments, some industry professionals remained cautiously optimistic about long-term implications.
• Comic artist Evan Dorkin noted that “Jim Lee openly disparaging AI in no way guarantees anything, no one knows what the future of AI is and no one knows who will be in charge at DC Comics down the line.”
• However, Dorkin emphasized the importance of the public stance: “I think it’s important that a popular artist publicly shot AI down. Fans and artists ignorant of or using AI need to hear this.”