DeviantArt, a platform popular among millennials and Gen Z for browsing and purchasing artwork, has shifted from its reputation as a marketplace for human creatives. It recently revealed that one of its highest-grossing artists is an AI artist known as mikonotai, who earned over US$12,000 (AU$18,400) in 2023 by selling AI-generated pieces. In a single year, mikonotai produced over 2,800 pieces, primarily depicting women in manga or comic art style.
Although there is no certainty that mikonotai is a French woman named Sara as claimed, her artist profile features numerous AI-generated art pieces categorized into folders such as “Redhaired babes” and “Elf, tiefling babes”, with a US$5 subscription service for exclusive content.
DeviantArt’s venture into AI began in 2022 with the launch of DreamUp, an image generation tool. This introduction led to a backlash from human artists, prompting DeviantArt to require users to specify when artwork was AI-generated. Despite this move, dissatisfaction among artists persists.
Associate Professor Oliver Brown from UNSW’s School of Art and Design explains that platforms like DeviantArt struggle to manage AI art as it allows for mass production of artworks. Critics argue that this devalues the effort of traditional artists and makes the platform a hub for pseudo-artists who use AI to generate art.
Conor Spence, a PhD researcher at the University of Sydney, points out that DeviantArt benefits from a wider user base and potential increases in revenue. However, this has not appeased the community of artists that the site originally catered to. Negative reactions to the incorporation of AI art have been widespread, with some longtime users of DeviantArt considering abandoning the platform.
DeviantArt was established in 2000 to encourage the sharing and exchange of creative ideas among artists. It previously gained acclaim for supporting the artistic career of Qinni, who became an internet sensation through the platform. The introduction and promotion of AI art, however, has raised questions over DeviantArt’s commitment to its original ethos, with many artists lamenting its transformation.
The Chainsaw has sought comment from DeviantArt regarding this issue.
